MONTHLY PACKET OF EVENING READINGS FOR Members of the English Church. EDITED BY CHARLOTTE M. YONGE, AUTHOR OF 'THE HEIR OF REDCLIFFE,' THIRD SERIES VOLUME XVIII. PARTS CIII. TO CVIII. JULY-DECEMBER, 1889. LONDON: WALTER SMITH AND INNES (LATE MOZLEY), 31 & 32, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.C. 1889. The Monthly Packet. JULY, 1889. TRUTH WITH HONOUR. BY C. R. COLERIDGE AND M. BRAMSTON. CHAPTER XVII. PREACHING AND PRACTISING. DURING the long hours of that hot July night, Cheriton fought out the battle with himself, and made up his mind as to what course he would pursue; and, in the hush and peace of the early summer morning, he went away to church by himself, and sought the strength that he would need to pursue it. As he came in, he met his brother coming downstairs. 'Jack,' he said, 'I must rest now if I am to preach this afternoon; but afterwards, I shall have something to say to you.' Jack looked at him. He was very pale, but all the passionate disturbance had gone from his face. 'You're not fit to preach,' said Jack savagely. 'Oh, yes,' said Cheriton, with rather a peculiar smile; I think I shall be-now. I am quite well,' he added; but I'll go and lie down, if you don't mind. I had very little sleep.' That last Sunday of the term, the last Sunday of their stay at Quixeter, had been looked forward to by poor Maisie as a day that would make an epoch. She would hear Cheriton preach for the first time; for the first time see him about the work of his life, and she had known quite well, that what was so much to her, was also something to him, and that he had been quite conscious that for the first time he would be preaching to her. But this enchanting sense of sharing his thoughts, whether grave or gay, had come to an end. His absence in the morning frightened her more than the sight of his displeasure, and when he came into the room at lunch time, she turned quite dizzy, and could not see his face. Are you quite rested, Cherry?' said Gipsy, rather timidly. 'Oh, yes, thank you, Gipsy, quite. Jack is dining in hall, I suppose. Shall I help the chicken?' VOL. 18. 1 PART 103. |