Like one of the animals which zoologists call radiated, the town was
constantly stretching out fresh arms along country roads, all living
and working, and gradually absorbing the open spaces between. One of
these arms was known as St. Ambrose's Road, in right of the church,
an incomplete structure in yellow brick, consisting of a handsome
chancel, the stump of a tower, and one aisle just weather-tight and
usable, but, by its very aspect, begging for the completion of the
beautiful design that was suspended above the alms-box.

It was the evening of a summer day which had been very hot. The
choir practice was just over, and the boys came out trooping and
chattering; very small ones they were; for as soon as they began to
sing tolerably they were sure to try to get into the choir of the old
church, which had a foundation that fed, clothed, taught, and finally
apprenticed them. So, though the little fellows were clad in
surplices and cassocks, and sat in the chancel for correctness sake,
there was a space round the harmonium reserved for the more
trustworthy band of girls and young women who came forth next,
followed by four or five mechanics.

Behind came the nucleus of the choir--a slim, fair-haired youth of
twenty; a neat, precise, well-trimmed man, closely shaven, with
stooping shoulders, at least fifteen years older, with a black poodle
at his heels, as well shorn as his master, newly risen from lying
outside the church door; a gentle, somewhat drooping lady in black,
not yet middle-aged and very pretty; a small eager, unformed, black-
eyed girl, who could hardly keep back her words for the outside of
the church door; a tall self-possessed handsome woman, with a fine
classical cast of features; and lastly, a brown-faced, wiry
hardworking clergyman, without an atom of superfluous flesh, but with