"I wish to God I could, sir!" In another moment he was over.

How he ever recovered from that awful plunge I don't know, but a
boat was immediately lowered for him and the child--he had it safe,
miraculously enough. How I cursed my weakness which prevented my
going in his place. But when I saw the two lives saved I was glad I
had not gone, for in my weak state I could not even have saved the
child.

I am invited to a Christmas dinner, _whenever I like_, with the
Bishop of Saskabasquia, whom I count as perhaps the finest specimen
of healthy Christian manhood I have ever met, and although I can
still laugh at the fun of "The Private Secretary" I can say that
even among her clergy England can boast of heroes in these latter
days as noble and disinterested as in years gone by.





"As it was in the Beginning."

A CHRISTMAS SKETCH.




CHAPTER I.