The record-union., 1896-06-07

| dS IL lnSlnudteS mot TOO IellcltOuSly, 1
think that he is getting too old for the
adequate administration of the diocese.
That is subject on which his Lordshlp
is exceedingly susceptible. Mr.. Medway
was telling me that at the last diocesan
| conference he playfully questioned the
Bishop as to whether there was any
truth in the rumor that suffragan was
to be appointed and his Lordship cried
cut, Not word, not wordn in quite
| spirited way, and appeared to be
greatly offended at the suggestion 1t
was judicious, no doubt" Mr.. Hep
burn added, "of Grant to disclose, even
to me, the authorship Of the letter; but,
Of course, Caroline, you will not betray
his confidence"
Certainly not; 1 don't suppose l
shall think about it again. But If Mr..
Jardine, after behaving in so ungentle-
manly way, could go to the Bishop,
why should you hesitate, Wilfrid?"
Mr.. Hepburn shook his head.
'Wilfrid, 1 should not mind speaking
to the Bishop myself"
''That-that would never, never do,
| Caroline"
Il should really like to go, as / feel
so sure 1 could persuade him to do
something for us; if not now, then per-
haps soon"
mo, no, Caroline; you must not
think of such a thing; it would be most
unbecoming and unprecedented"
Mrs. Hepburn pulled up the blind,
rather slowly, as though thinking OF
something, and stood in the sunshine.
A young man passing raised his hat;
she gave him a charming smile. 1t
is not easy" she said, ''in the midst of
deepening poverty, to regard precedent
as quite sacred"
THE Bishop would be shocked" Mr..
| Hepburn cried.
But ITO herself Mrs. Hepburn said: Il
should like to so shock the old gentle
man. 1t could not make matters worse
than they are"
Carriages We're i'm waiting at the
! town hall; the Bishop was drawn up
under the portico. Four o'clock was
come; the meeting, every one but the
reforming laymen seemed to think,
had already been unreasonably long.
The Bishop (having renounced all affec-
tion of enthusias1m leaned toward the
Secretary, who lowered his head-rev
erently This" whispered the Bishop,
| lis the gentqeman's fourth amendment.
How do we stand? Is it possible for
him to amend anything else?" The
Secretary smiled. II hope" said the
Bishop, che will have done reforming
us out of existence in time for me to
| catch the next train" The Secretary
coughed; the Archdea con Croused from
a pleasant nap) coughed also, to show
that HE had been taking an intelligent
interest in the proceedings. But the
layman with ideas would be a-talking
he was young, not timid, and turned SO
deaf an ear to episcopal snubs that GU
rates gasped, and hardened Wears i'm
agined humorous things. The end came
at last, quite suddenly; the right rever-
end Chairman stopped a proposed vote
of thanks to himself. 'If," observed
his lordship, 1--WE would all do more
and talk less, the church at large would
undoubtedly benefit" And as the cler-
gy and laity, with many sighs of relief,
rose, Mrs. Hepburn made her way to
the Bishop. He received her with the
ripened courtesy of assured greatness,
and invited her TO walk with him along
the corridor. There was no time to lose;
the Archdeacon was toddling behind,
carrying a big black bag; SO the lady,
| In eloquent urgency, and with some
pathos, made her appeal. Il trust, "
she added, II have not given Of
fense to your lordship in mentioning
this. Not at all, not at all; ladies are
privileged persons, said the Bishop.
He smiled pleasantly. and folded his
| hands high up on his breast. With
every other step he raised his fine old
| head, as if determined to make these
people understand that he was not be-
| ginning to Stoop. cat the same time,
Mrs. Hepburn, I regret / cannot offer
you any positive assurance on the sub
| ject Mr.. Hepburn has not been for
| gotten East Wispers has given us
mcst anxious thought, TO my daughter
| in particular 1 may say, since the dio-
cese owes so much TO her. and we have
got so far as the selection of two clergy
men who appear to be most suited for
this arduous parish; namely, your hus-
band and Mr.. Jardine."
"Mr. Jardine'' Mrs. Hepburn ex-
| claimed involuntarily.
| while fully recognizing" said the
Bishop, your husbands many excel
lent qualities, 1 cannot avoid the con-
clusion that Mr.. Jardine has an ad-
vantage over him in having acquired
Just the experience which seems pecul-
iarly to mark him out for such par
| ish."
MIR. Jardine is unmarried, my Lord.
| And your Lordship may be aware that
he is-not poor"
"Yes; that is in his favor In the ex-
listing circumstances of the church,
when our schools make SO great a de-
mand on our resources, by reason of the
ever-increasing faithlessness of the
State, I am strongly of opinion that a
parish clergyman should possess an in
dependent income. This may appear
hard: but the interests of the church
cannot be subordinated to personal
feeling"
"Mr. Jardine is very young, my Lord !;
and-we have a large family. If it
were not for my brothers kindness, we
could scarcely live in manner becom-
ing Mr.. Hepburn's high calling"
II am sorry to hear that; / hear it so
frequently, and it always grieves me, :"
said the Bishop 1T is most urgent
and weighty problem, this upon which
YOU touch; and fail to comprehend how
it is to be solved otherwise than by a
larger and more consistent generosity
On the part of the laity.
They had reached the street; foot
man opened the door of the Bishops
carriage; the Archdeacon put the black
bag on the seat.
Then, my Lord, we must give up all
hope?" Mrs. Hepburn murmured.
"Oh, no, no. Nothing has yet been
l