The Shadow of the Rope

Buchanan Steel-was writing his sermon on a Friday afternoon just six months after the foregoing events. The month was therefore May, and, at either end of the

of a room, for a treacherous east wind skimmed the sunlit earth outside,

peculiar but not uncommon hand which is the hall-mark of a certain sort of education upon a certain order of mind. The present specimen was perhaps more methodical than most; therein it was characteristic of the man. From May to September, Mr. Woodgate never failed to finish his

any a million times, that he did not hear wheels in his drive, on the side where the wind sang loudest; he heard

you, dear, but who d

ever could look at her without that look first; and only now, after some years of marriage, was he beginning sometimes to do so without this thought next. But he had not the gift of expression,

it?" h

Vena

ged to appear? His jaw fell,

ant-if Mrs. Venables wasn't clamoring to see you. And really I begin to clamor too; for she is full of some

his pen in his

s is engaged," said he; "

though she had heard the story several times already, whatever it may be. The

full of character and ability, opened fire upon the vicar as soon as they

Venables, beginning in the m

-of-fact clergyman, with equa

and your patr

Woodgate, with tremendo

e worthy of the name. And they both demanded further particulars, a

"like everything else about him, is 'wrop in mystery,' as one of those vulgar creatures says in Dickens, but I really forget which. It was never announced in

d and butter and the distressing absence of such hot things as would have been in readiness if Mrs. Venables had been expected for a single moment. It showed the youth of Morna Woodgate that she s

id the vicar, in a tone indicative

om all we hear it may become the case any moment. They were married in

icar, with mild humor, "it is p

interest, the cups having gone round, and the bread

as she, indeed! It was the first question I asked my own informant, who, by the

pursued Morna Woodgate. "It is not often t

eccentric friend, and told him neither more nor less than I have told you. He was married in

cluded with a suffici

a lady," said th

aritable, dear

ly. "In this case I see no

really nothing about

nables grew smaller and harder as th

mense amount for the parish; there are our new schoolrooms to speak for themselves. There are very few w

for he has certainly not omitted to let his light shine before men. But that is

, half bashful laugh with which he was

it's any business

now Mrs. Venables had turned from him to her, with a smile which the young wife disliked, for it called attention to the vicar's discourtesy whil

on of a smile. "You forget that it's your duty to be friendly

l," said Hugh, "duty or no duty, af

and smile did away with the

to her visitor, "that it's

was a

id Mrs. Venables, coming with directne

ith us," said the vicar's young w

he vicar himself, wi

at him, but she looked th

ence put Mrs. Venables on good terms with herself once more; and so she rose all smiles and velvet. "No, not even half a cup; but it was really quit

comer herself; even Mrs. Woodgate was uncertain of her neighbor's intention as the latte

hey won't call; as if it mattered to a man like Mr. Steel, or any woman he is likely to have chosen. Still, it is mysterious, isn't it? But what business of ours, as you say? Only, dear, you needn't have said it quite so pointedly. Of course I'll call as soon as I can in d

n the law for him to her heart's content; but, though fifteen years her senior, and never a vivacious man

her mother told me she knew for a fact he was not a day more than five-and-forty! Poor Steel, too! He has done for them both in that quarter, I am afraid. And now