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there happened to be men who had not the truth; for though this society has its only caught sight of a few valuable prin- branches in the borough of Hackney, inciples, but who also were resolved to cluding Bethnal Green, it has hitherto make an attempt to put them to perma- had nothing but an Inquiry Office throughnent use. Accordingly they have ever out the Tower Hamlets. To this office since continued to meet together, and there come week after week several genhave established a system of administer- tlemen from the West-end, who devote ing charitable funds, which, if not as com- themselves with praiseworthy diligence plete and satisfactory as they could wish, to the work of examining cases of appliis at least a step in the right direction. I cation for relief which have been referred am alluding to the Hackney Association hither from all parts of London - the for improving the condition of the Poor. cases being those of persons resident in The most noticeable feature of this asso- the Tower Hamlets careful reports of ciation is that it is composed of resident which, after due investigation, are forinhabitants of Hackney, of all classes and warded to those who have asked for the creeds, and that, whilst inviting the co- inquiries to be made. But, as yet, the operation of ministers of all denomina- only persons connected with this office tions, its operations are not under their who live in East London are the secredirection, and its almoners are its own tary and the agent. Nor, except in peagents. I am told that the zeal and in- culiar cases, and then only as a loan, is dustry of several of the lay members of relief ever given by this committee. Elsethis association is worthy of all praise. where, I understand, inquiry forms but a But I also understand that some clergy- part of the business of the Society. To men of the neighbourhood keep aloof what extent the principles which I have from them, and moreover that, with some advocated in this paper are acted upon, exceptions, they do not receive the sup- through the instrumentality of the port which they desire from the noncon- Society, in other parts of London, I do not formist ministers. Why the latter should know. But in any case, even if it has not be apathetic in this matter I do not ex- yet succeeded in inducing the West-end actly see; because I should have thought and suburban clergy to cast their charitthey were less trammelled by burdensome able funds into a common treasury, to traditions in this respect than the clergy. be administered upon a uniform system, If they suppose that it is a secular busi- it must be doing good service as a centre ness, which would interfere with their of information, of discussion of principles, devoting themselves to the preparation and especially as a means of affording needful for the discharge of spiritual du- publicity to the various relief agencies ties, I can but refer them to the spiritual which cross each other's paths in any achievements of Stephen, the table- given neighbourhood. I am far from server. I think that there must be some thinking that we East London clergy, confusion in their minds as to what it is always excepting our advertising brethren, that really constitutes spirituality, and stand in greater need than the clergy of that they fail to perceive that spirituality the West of publicity in order to keep our does not consist in the thing done, but in relief proceedings within the bounds of the way in which it is done. After what innocence. The mere fact of our having I have said concerning the prominence so much less than they to give, and so of the lay element in the Hackney Asso- many more poor among whom to districiation, it may seem odd that I should bute it, would itself settle that point. Still have to record that the prime mover of we do need what we certainly have not the plan from the first has been a clergy-got- some means of co-operation, for man. This association is now a branch of the Charity Organization Society; but it was in active operation before that society came into existence.

Some of my readers will perhaps here exclaim:-"He is coming to the point at last; we had almost begun to think that the Charity Organization Society must be utterly unknown in East London." Well, to some extent, that is about

The Rev. E. C. Hawkins, Head Master of St. John's Foundation School.

the purpose of arriving at common principles in the administration of charitable funds. Nor is it the clergy alone who are in this need. At present the various agencies, societies, chapels, as well as churches, act in complete isolation from each other. And no doubt they will continue to do so, until, as I have said, some great emergency again puts all their machinery out of gear; when out of the confusion let us hope that there may arise a new and better order.

From Macmillan's Magazine.

A SLIP IN THE FENS.

CHAPTER VIII.

MRS. GAITHORNE had hardly slept, but was astir soon after daybreak. On her way downstairs she peeped into Elsie's room and found her fast asleep, looking so placid and happy that she did not disturb her.

Mrs. Gaithorne moved much more slowly than was usual with her, at the beginning of such a busy day as this promised to be. It seemed as if she was planning some scheme to set matters right. Presently, when she had fastened back all the shutters and set the kitchen-door open, she took her black bonnet down from the hook, tied the strings in a decided manner, as if she had made up her mind, and set out for the dairy. The air was cold and raw, and there was a heavy fog over the meadow. The fens are in a perpetual ague. Yesterday they were parched and feverish, now they shuddered with the cold. Many people waste their lives here, and know nothing different. If Mrs. Gaithorne had been conscious of a lighter air while she lived with the Lillingstones, she attributed it, in some vague way, to wealth and its influence; so she did not know that she felt its heaviness, she only said to herself, "If I hadn't plenty to do I shouldn't like to hear that engine going all day long," and she quickened her pace, for the thought of "plenty to do" brought to her mind the plenty well done which always stirred her housewifely pride, and now coaxed her back into cheerfulness. But this cheerfulness was not thorough, and it did not spend itself pleasantly. Jim the farm-boy felt its energy, and so did the dairy people, though somewhat deservedly, for they showed a tendency to gossip, quite unusual at that early hour.

Elsie slept long after her usual time, but Mrs. Gaithorne was still in the dairy when she went down. As she lighted the fire and set the place in order, she went from time to time to the door and looked out at the morning. This had brightened into pleasantness. The dew had settled on the grass, and showed the tracks of the fowls as they grouped wistfully round the brick path waiting for Mrs. Gaithorne. Then Elsie reproached herself for loitering, and was going out to find her, when an unexpected cackling of the fowls announced her arrival. The loud remonstrative cackle that quickly succeeded this, however, noted the unusual conduct

on her part, for she carried their food straight past them and hurried on to the house as soon as she saw Elsie.

"Well, child, you're looking fresh enough now, though you were up so late last night, or this morning as I ought to say." She rested her sieve of corn for a minute on the table. "I ran in to tell you that it's well after all you decided on stopping here, for that was Joe Bailey's boy who you frightened, and it's like to be all over the parish soon that you were out there."

"Did he know me, then?" Elsie asked quickly.

"I've heard no sound of you as yet, but there is no knowing how those things come out, and I wouldn't for anything that you'd be going away just now - that would set all their tongues a-going; but I think we can manage that they don't know nothing about it. As for Master Claude, I've got a trimming ready for him as soon as I can catch him alone."

The "trimming" heightened the colour on Elsie's cheek, but she said nothing.

"Joe's father was took worse in the evening, and it was in going to fetch physic for him that he took fright at you, the little fool. Now if you'll clean out the dining-room," gathering up her sieve, "I'll take up the hot water myself. We must manage to keep you as much as possible out o' their way this morning ;" and Mrs. Gaithorne went back to the fowls that had huddled impatiently round the door.

She was still feeding them when Elsie ran back to her quickly.

"Here's a note I've found on the table; it's directed to Miss Grey."

"That's Mr. Claude's writing," said Mrs. Gaithorne, taking it from her hand. "Well! what can he be up to now? Well, I suppose I must take it to Miss Mildred, but why he can't speak to her when he's in the same house with her is more than I can make out. I hate those nonsensical whimsies. I'll call them in a few minutes, and take it then. Now be as quick as you can with your work, there's no time to waste."

An hour later the room was looking fresh and pleasant, with its French window open. Mr. Lillingstone was walking thoughtfully up and down under the verandah, waiting for the ladies. Mildred came in and looked round hurriedly.

"There you are, uncle. I wanted to find you, for I have a note from Claude. He went off to Cambridge before six o'clock."

Mr. Lillingstone looked up, then down again, without saying anything, but he listened attentively.

"I shall be ready at any time," and she turned away quickly to receive Dobree and his companions; at the same time, Laura stepped out into the verandah, dressed as usual in frills and smiles.

Mrs. Gaithorne, who had followed close

"He says he is so disappointed at not getting nets here that he has gone to get some in Cambridge; and he will bring a croquet set with him also, that the eve-behind with the breakfast, overheard Milning may not be so dull; but I think it is a pity, do you not? The day would have passed off better if he had stayed here to amuse them."

dred retailing the contents of the note; and as she left the room she thought Claude a worse coward even than she had suspected.

"Oh, oh!" said Mr. Lillingstone, still "I can tell you what that letter was pacing up and down, and continuing his about, Elsie," she said, as soon as she got own musing. "The butterfly nets! is back into the kitchen. "Mr. Claude's it?" then stopping before his niece, he gone to Cambridge, and he won't be back held out his hand for the note, and, fixing till dinner-time. Like enough he didn't his glass on his nose, he glanced over it, care to be all the morning with his father," but did not wait to read it. she added, smiling satirically to herself.

"Mildred," he said, in a confidential tone, "you're a sensible girl; I can trust you. Let me have a word with you before the others come down," and the two walked out into the garden.

As soon as they were out of hearing from the house, Mr. Lillingstone began, "Did you hear a noise in the night?

"Of screaming? yes; it woke me up. I did not like to disturb Mrs. Gaithorne to ask what it was: but afterwards the maid ran upstairs and told me it was some boy; she did not wait, however, to give any further particulars."

This suggested" the trimming" to Elsie's mind, so she was rather glad that Claude was out of the way for the time.

When the post came in, Mr. Lillingstone called Mildred as he had promised. He told her what had passed in the night, and spoke out his anger very strongly against Claude, "not altogether on account of the affair with Elsie, but for his deceit in the matter. Such a mean, paltry lie; I have hardly slept all night for thinking of it; " and the old man stopped and turned away his face. "I've had my eye upon him for some time," he said, Mr. Lillingstone nodded to himself. after a little while; "and now I begin to He had already made sure that it was El- have my doubts of Claude. However, sie by asking Mrs. Gaithorne. "Well! he's gone," he resumed, with more enerIt was a boy who made the noise. He gy, "and we must try to keep him away. was startled by seeing two figures near I think I have settled how to do it." these in-teresting ruins; and those fig- Then Mr. Lillingstone showed Mildred ures," he added slowly, pointing every word with his eye-glass, "were that maid and our Claude." He stepped back a pace or two to see the effect this would have on Mildred. "Well, young lady, what have you to say to that?"

She met his inquiry with a quiet smile, but this amused look soon changed to one of sadness. "I am not so very much surprised."

"God bless my soul!" exclaimed her uncle, coming down at once from his superior position. 'My good girl, what do you mean?"

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"Very little; only I thought his manner rather odd yesterday, and I noticed that the girl behaved a little oddly too; but here are the party from the inn. If you wish this to be hushed up we ought not to be seen consulting together."

"You are right; but I shall want to speak to you after post is in. I shall have letters of importance;" he looked at her intelligently.

that the original plan for Claude to stop at the farm to read was now quite out of the question. Indeed, it would not be advisable for him to come back at all, so he intended to send Luard after him at once with instructions for him to remain where he was, as they would all follow him there in the course of the day. Then Claude was to go down with them into Scotland. He would not venture to object to this, under the circumstances; and when once there it would be easy to find some quiet place where he could read till the vacation was over.

Mildred knew Claude too well to feel so confident of the ultimate success of this device; but she said nothing, as she did not wish to make her uncle uncomfortable to no purpose, and she could not suggest anything that would be more binding on Claude.

The version that was to be given to everybody around was easily arranged. Mr. Lillingstone had received a letter

from Captain Macneill — to whose place You can. tell her of Macneill's letter and, they were going persuading him very by-the-by, you will not forget to dwell on strongly to hasten the journey. His broth- the point he makes of introducing his er, also, a schoolboy friend of Mr. Lil- girls to her." lingstone's, had just come home from the Continent, with his two daughters. They were now in Perth, but they would not think of staying there after the last week in September, as the younger was too delicate to bear the cold of the north. Captain Macneill urged his friend to go down at once, as it would be much more cheerful for his nieces if they had companions, to send into Cambridge at once, he let in what he chose to call his "dull country place."

Mr. Lillingstone had really heard from Scotland that morning, and though the letter was only a repetition of hospitable civilities, now that the visit was imminent, he was glad to avail himself of it to the letter.

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"As he was on such intimate terms with Macneill, a word or two aside to him when they met would prevent any possibility of the young people finding out that he had somewhat strained its meaning." While he was planning this there flashed through his mind an additional satisfaction. The companions were to be young ladies intellectual, handsome girls." He little suspected Claude's aversion to "intellectual" women. If they were agreeable, they exacted too much of his indolence; and if they were disagreeable, he positively wriggled at the thought of being shown up by them. It was the worst thing his father could have devised. Meanwhile he valued himself on it very much; this was plain in his increased pomposity when he closed the conversation.

Shortly after, the whole place was in a bustle, and there was running upstairs, and in and out; but only Mildred and her uncle knew what it was for. Those who had nothing to do stood in the doorway, and jostled the others who were busily employed; for when Mr. Lillingstone had told Mrs. Gaithorne he wanted

fall that they would all go away the same day, but he did not say why; therefore all except that quick-sighted widow thought something very unusual must have happened. Mildred was upstairs with her mother, and no one ventured to question the old gentleman as he paced restlessly up and down the long passage, waiting till some vehicle should be found for Luard. He held the note ready written for Claude in his hand, and muttered to himself as he kept looking at the door. Presently Elsie ran in from the yard to say that the spring cart would not be back from Soham before eleven o'clock. While she was still speaking, Jim came back breathless from the inn with the answer that Watson had just started for Newmarket; then Mrs. Gaithorne set upon the boy and rated him soundly for taking a wrong message. "It wasn't Watson they wanted - it was the gig."

"If Watson had gone, no doubt the gig had gone too," Dobree suggested in mediation. But old Mr. Lillingstone cursed the whole country, and did not care who was in the wrong.

"I'll run down there," said Bordale, snatching up his cap. "I suppose anything will do?"

"What do you say to try at the "Well, now, Mildred," making a slight Wiley's?" said Bordale, from behind. ceremonious bow to his niece, as he shut "Well, of course," retorted the old his glasses with a click, "I think we may man, facing round upon him suddenly. say that we have dismissed this little af-"Why the deuce hadn't they thought of fair quite satisfactorily, and as it is that before?" likely to pass off without any more difficulty-it would be judicious to withhold this from your mother; we should only be giving her unnecessary pain. But, begad!" and the disturbing thought lowered his tone a little, "she may have been alarmed too! Do you know if she was?" "Oh, no; when I took her a cup of tea this morning she was much as usual; and since then she has eaten a good breakfast, and has gratified Mrs. Gaithorne by saying she was surprised she had slept so well."

"Good," said Mr. Lillingstone, in a sententious tone. "Now you go and prepare her gently for our move to-day.

"It doesn't matter what, so that you get a horse that will go," insisted Mr. Lillingstone, regardless of Luard's entry into the town.

"All right!" Bordale shouted, as he ran across the meadow.

Meanwhile Luard was standing by, without presuming to offer a word. Mr. Lillingstone was getting restless again when Bordale suddenly appeared through the road-gate, driving furiously in something very high, that might have been a butcher's cart.

"Splendid to go," he called out as he dashed past the window, and pulled up suddenly before the kitchen door. "Have to be your own whip; not even a boy to be got."

"Now, then," said Mr. Lillingstone, instantly taking Luard's arm and walking with him towards the door, "you will be as quick as you possibly can. Give this to Claude in time to prevent his returning here."

But when Mr. Lillingstone let him go, Luard did not bound into the cart with the alacrity which was expected of him. He had prolonged difficulty in getting the note into his breast-pocket, during which time he eyed the horse with an unmistakable expression.

"Don't like the look of him, eh?" said Bordale, who had got down and was ready to give him the reins.

It was a gaunt, raw-boned animal, and its ears were set back with an expression as unmistakable in its way as Luard's. It had, too, a trick of slightly showing its teeth at intervals.

"Involuntary muscular action, that. The pace will take it out of him," and Bordale laughed as he looked past Luard at Dobree.

time," Mrs. Gaithorne said, looking after him.

"Do you think he'll overtake them?" Mildreď asked.

"Yes, sure; he's quick, and they'll be kept back a little at the ferry."

Dobree got down to the river just as the cart was landing on the opposite side, so that was made all right. He was returning slowly when Scholefield called after him from the inn, where he had been to fetch a specimen case that Laura had professed a great curiosity to see. As they walked on, Dobree told him of the change of plan, and how Luard and Bordale had gone off to keep Claude in Cambridge, as his father had decided on going to Scotland at once and wished to see him before he started.

"Well, I thought something had happened, because Mrs. Gaithorne's boy came in a great hurry to ask for the loan of the gig. What is the reason of this?"

"That is what no one knows, and Mr. Lillingstone was so anxious to get Luard off that I asked no questions; but I strongly suspect that this sudden move has something to do with young Lillingstone. I thought that the story of the 'nets' as they gave it out at breakfast, Luard did not seem so sure of this; he was rather flimsy, and you must have nostill stood hesitating. "I don't mind ticed that Mr. Lillingstone was quite predriving," Bordale said good-naturedly. occupied the whole time. I think there "Ill-looking beast certainly; but with must be something wrong between the the two of us we shall get in all right." father and son," he repeated, reflectively. Luard looked from Bordale to the" Part of his duties seem to have fallen horse, and back again at Bordale, then on you," he added presently, laughing, as jumping into the cart he said over his he looked at the little tin case. shoulder, to Dobree, "You said might as well come to the end at once, didn't you?"

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"I did not say a violent one, though," Dobree retorted, laughingly; "but you'll be punctual to-night, or I shall feel bound to look you up."

"Oh, he's safe enough with me," said Bordale, flourishing his whip as he drove off.

They had just turned into the road, when Mildred came running down stairs, as Mrs. Gaithorne was hurrying into the larder. "Do you know if any one reminded them of the post-horses?"

"Bless me! No; I'm sure they didn't!" exclaimed Mrs. Gaithorne, looking about in a great bustle, "and that Jim's so slow; but there's Mr. Dobree, if he wouldn't mind."

Dobree was ready to go anywhere. "If he'd run down to the ferry, just by the inn, he'd catch them before they got over. It's a good thing you spoke in

"It would appear so; but it is a pity Bordale has gone. From what Mrs. Watson has just told me, he might have entertained Miss Laura with the last edition of his ghost story; for they say that as a boy was passing through the farm last night he saw a man and woman standing at the dairy-door, just where they ought to be, and he persists they were the ghosts. It is lucky for me you passed, or I have no doubt I should still be listening to Mrs. Watson's roundabout story."

Dobree thought for a few minutes. "Well," said Scholefield, breaking the silence, "do you think you can throw any light on the mystery?

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"What do you think? Suppose the ghost to be Claude Lillingstone, and that he was seen and not alone I can understand the pressing nature of his business in Cambridge.'

"Yes; but would he have come back again to-day?"

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