earthly hopes—scarcely live as Christ lived: perhaps you cannot do it yet, while existence is so sweet and earth so smiling to you; it would be too much to expect: she, with meek heart and due reverence, treads close in her Redeemer's steps."
Here the harsh voice of Donne broke in on the mild tones of Mr. Hall:―
"Ahem!" he began, clearing his throat evidently for a speech of some importance. "Ahem! Miss Keeldar, your attention an instant, if you please."
"Well," said Shirley, nonchalantly. "What is it? I listen: all of me is ear that is not eye."
"I hope part of you is hand also," returned Donne, in his vulgarly presumptuous and familiar style, "and part purse: it is to the hand and purse I propose to appeal. I came here this morning with a view to beg of you"
"You should have gone to Mrs. Gill: she is my almoner."
"To beg of you a subscription to a school. I and Dr. Boultby intend to erect one in the hamlet of Ecclefigg which is under our vicarage of Whinbury. The Baptists have got possession of it: they have a chapel there, and we want to dispute the ground."
"But I have nothing to do with Ecclefigg: I possess no property there."
"What does that signify? You're a Churchwoman, ain't you?"
"Admirable creature!" muttered Shirley, under her breath: "exquisite address! fine style! What
