conversation with Donkin. She made no comment till she came to an end, Holdich listening in silence, and then said, glancing timidly at her husband, “I do not know what you will say to it, Robert; but if it be usual, and right to accept such a present, it seems as if it were a blessing sent to us from God." As Holdich did not instantly answer, his wife found courage to add, "I scarcely think that it can be wrong to do what every one does!"

No?" said Holdich, in a tone of inquiry; "there was no harm then in worshipping the golden image with the rest of the world!"

"This is different-"

"My dear wife," said the steward, "Satan is ready enough to persuade us that black is white, and wrong is right, when self-interest makes us willing to be so persuaded. The money is a present, you say, but from whose pocket does it come? To take it would be to rob my master."

Rebekah flushed at the words. It seemed to her that she had been acting the part of Eve in tempting her husband. "What will you do then, Robert?"

she asked.

"I shall let Mr. Donkin know that eight hundred pounds is the fair and just price for the timber. For that sum he may have it, but not for less; if he do not accept the terms, there are others who will."

"You look after Sir Digby's interests as if they were your own," said Rebekah.

"A plain duty," answered the steward.

He is scarcely worthy-"

"His worthiness or unworthiness has nothing to do with my duty towards him," said Holdich; "I have to answer for my conduct towards an earthly master to my Master in heaven."

Holdich carried his principles into practice. Early on the following morning he walked over to Portly, and had an interview with the timber-merchant. Donkin soon saw with what sort of a man he had now to deal, and perceived the failure of his attempt to work upon Holdich through his wife. He did not, however, finally conclude the bargain; he would consult his partner in London, he said, and return to settle the business; but not another word was uttered regarding an acknowledgment to the steward. The careless, extravagant baronet might have four hundred pounds more to throw away in ostentatious follies, but he was not likely ever to know that he owed it to the integrity of one whom he regarded as belonging to a lower order of beings. What had Holdich then to compensate for the money which he needed and which he might have. taken, that money which had been within his reach, but which he had not stooped down to touch? had the calm sunshine of an approving conscience, which is as a smile from God; he feared to look no man in the face; he had not bartered, for the yellow dust of earth, the inheritance prepared for the children of light!

He

A

XIII.

The Monarch's Fall.

VERY different scene was presented by the cottage of Holdich at the next lecture, than upon any former occasion.

The tidings that the proud baronet himself was about to grace with his presence the little week-day service, had spread from mouth to mouth, and although the subject of many a gibe and jeer in the servants' hall, and amongst those who worked under Slimes, they had the effect of crowding the meeting. Many came from curiosity, whom no nobler motive could have drawn. Mr. Eardley saw with surprise as well as pleasure, the crowd which clustered round Holdich's porch, and he found Rebekah in a flutter of expectation, which showed that something unusual was to happen.

Sir Digby will be here, sir," was the steward's reply to the clergyman's inquiring look.

The first feeling of Mr. Eardley on hearing this was scarcely a feeling of pleasure. He reflected on the subject of the lecture which he had to deliver; he looked on the picture which he had brought of

the proudest monarch of earth, grovelling in dust like a beast, chased with scorn from the dwellings of men ! He could have wished that the haughty baronet had chosen to attend any lecture but that whose moral might appear to him to be directed against himself. But Henry Eardley repressed the feeling as one altogether unworthy of a minister of the Gospel. Had he not been entrusted with God's message for the high as well as the low? Should he shrink from speaking the truth where the knowledge of truth was especially needed?

Mr. Eardley doubted whether it were right even to wait for Sir Digby, when the hand of the large, round clock, which was as punctual as its owner, pointed to the hour of Three. He was relieved from the doubt, however, by a stir amongst the crowd round the porch. All eyes were turned in one direction, and then the men bared their heads, and the women curtseyed low, as with lofty mein and measured stride, Sir Digby passed through the obsequious throng, leading his little girl by the hand. As soon

as he had entered the room prepared for the lecture, both that and the parlour were filled to overflowing; some of the men were obliged to stand, as the abode of the steward did not offer accommodation for all,

LECTURE IV.

Once again the Almighty deigned to send to the heathen monarch, Nebuchadnezzar, a warning in a dream of events that were yet to come.

So deep

an impression was made on the king, that a strange dread came over his mind; in the midst of his splendours he was troubled; he believed the vision to be, as it was, a solemn revelation from above.

This time Nebuchadnezzar's memory did not fail him. When he repeated to the Chaldeans and soothsayers the dream which disturbed his spirit, the image of what he had seen was distinct before his mind. If, perchance, a glimpse of some of the meaning of the dream flashed before any of the sages, no tongue was bold enough to utter what it might offend the tyrant to hear. Nor did any Chaldean dare to give a false interpretation, all drooping and abashed were forced to confess that the mystery could not be solved by them.

Last of all, Daniel, the Jewish exile, appeared before the ruler of Babylon. "O Belteshazzar!" exclaimed the king, calling Daniel by an Assyrian name which he himself had bestowed, "because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof!"

"These were the visions of my head in my bed: