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production to do much good in the village. Granting it to be all true, might not the same truths have been stated a little less bitterly? But it is not true: I am sure that no set of men, not even Romanists themselves, taught many of the doctrines which are here set down to the Puseyites, as you call them. Yet I do not wonder that Mr. Jupp is anxious to distribute these papers; for they are evidently written by a dissenter in heart, if not in profession; but you and I, Mrs. Laxington, who profess to love our Church, should hardly, I think, lend ourselves to disperse what is really written against it, though professing only to be directed against a party in it."

"Well now! you don't say so!" cried Mrs. Laxington. "I am sure I had no idea that there was any harm in the bill, or I wouldn't have distributed it for the world. Dear me! written against the Church, you say! Well, I am very sorry; and so, I'm sure, will poor Mr. Jupp be. about it to-night at the meeting. won't you be there?"

I must tell him

But now, really,

"that my

"You say yourself," said Miss Morley, father objects to it; and that would be, you know, quite sufficient reason to prevent my going, even if I had no objection of my own to the whole thing."

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Well, I wonder to hear you say so," answered Mrs. Laxington. "I know you generally approve of whatever Mr. Wallis does, and he has promised just to look in-after the opening prayer, that is;

which he thought, considering all circumstances, he could not come to so well."

"I beg your pardon for doubting it," said Miss Morley," but are you quite sure that you are correctly informed? Because I know that when Mr. Wallis dined with us the other day, he was directly opposed to your intended meeting."

"Quite sure of it, my dear Miss Morley; I met him just now down by Collard's End. I think he was going to call on Mr. Trenton, because I saw him turn up the lane afterwards—and that reminds me,-what a sad condition that lane is in. Hawkins, Mr. Trenton's coachman, told my maid Betty the other day, that in wet weather the horses could hardly get along it's a perfect shame that the parish don't repair it but, as I was saying, I met Mr. Wallis down there, and I said to him, 'Shall we have the pleasure of seeing you,' I said, 'for half an hour or so this evening?' Why yes,' he said, 'I think I shall look in. I did not intend to have done so; but I should give offence if I did not, and it will be expected, and so I think I shall.' So you see I have my information from the very best possible source. O! good morning, Mr. Morley: always busy in the parish! Well, I hardly know how you clergymen contrive to get through so much business. Visiting in the day, and sermon-writing in the night. I am sure it makes me tired only to think of it."

"I think I may return the compliment, Mrs. Laxington, as to employment: for that bundle under

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your arm does not look as if you were very to-day."

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"Indeed I am not," she replied: "I shall leave your sister to tell you the why and the wherefore. As for me, I've a hundred places to call at before the evening. Good morning, Miss Morley! I will let you know to-morrow how the thing went off, if I don't see you there: good morning, Mr. Morley! I've been giving your sister a word of advice for you -you must not be offended at an old friend speaking plainly, you know.”

"Has she been talking to you about the teetotal meeting to-night, Catherine?" asked George Morley.

"She has, indeed; and she tells me, what I can hardly believe, that Mr. Wallis is to be there."

"It is unfortunately too true," returned her brother; "it seems he dined yesterday with Mr. Trenton, and was persuaded to join it, though I think he does not above half approve of it. He wanted me to go too, but I was really forced to tell him that that was perfectly impossible.”

"Just look at this paper, George. It is an importation of Mr. Jupp's; and Mrs. Laxington has been busying herself in distributing them. Is it not perfectly shameful?" she continued, as the colour came into her cheek.

"Did you never see any of these before? Why, in some places they are as common as dust. Shameful! Yes but I have seen many much worse than

this. I suppose Mr. Jupp begins to find, that when true Church principles are preached, however feebly and imperfectly, if only faithfully, schism must and will be weakened. But what was the advice Mrs. Laxington has been giving you about me?"

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"O! that you should do more to conciliate the Dissenters than you do. She seemed terribly afraid to bring it out; but that was the sum and substance of her communication."

"I really am seriously vexed about this decision of Mr. Wallis's: for thinking that he did not mean to go who could think otherwise after what he said the other night?-I spoke much more strongly on the danger and harm of such associations than I should otherwise have done so now I shall have the credit of setting up against my own vicar, and judging and condemning his proceedings.'

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"Well, really, George, it is his fault and not yours. I almost wonder the Dissenters were so anxious for the credit of his name."

"What do you think they are going to do at Studham?" inquired George.

"What is it? A teetotal meeting on a grander scale than the Teynton Association can attain?”

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Something worse than that. It seems that the funds of the Studham Dispensary are in a very bad condition; and as there appears no hope of an increase in subscriptions, one of those musical performances of which we have lately heard is about to be given in the church. My father has just told me

the news; and as he thinks that he may have some influence there with Mr. Fortescue, he is gone over to see what can be done. Look! there is young Abberley riding up to our house! I want much to speak with him: so, if you are coming in, we will go together."

"I am very sorry to hear about these doings at Studham but I do hope, when the impropriety of the thing is set before Mr. Fortescue, who is not an obstinate man, that he will yield to reason. At all events, it was like papa to do what he could against it, and to do it directly."

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