The Bishop's Secret

e and splendour, save the minsters of York and Canterbury. Founded and endowed by Henry II. in 1184 for the glory of God,

the Norman superiority in architectural science. It was begun by Gandolf in 1185, and finished at the beginning of the present century; therefore, as it took six hundred years in building, every portion of it is execute

canopied arches. The church is cruciform in shape, and is built of Portland stone, the whole being richly ornamented with pinnacles, buttresses, crocketted spires and elaborate tracery. Statues of saints, kings, queens and bishops are placed in niches along the northern and southern fronts, and the western front itself is sculptured with scenes from Holy Scripture in the quaint grotesque style of medi?val art. No ivy is permitted to conc

s are mostly of stained glass, since these were not destroyed by the Puritans; and when the sun shines on a summer's day the twilight interior is dyed with rich hues and quaint patterns. As the Bishop of Beorminster is a High Churchman the altar is magnificently decorated, and during service, what with the light and

most careless within the walls of the sacred building. Bishop Pendle was right in his estimate of human nature; for when the senses are enthralled by colour and sound, and vast spaces, and symbolic decorations the reverential feeling thus engendered prepares the mind for the reception of the sublime truths of Christianity. A pure faith and a gorgeous ritual are not so incompatible as many people think. God should be worshipped with pomp and splendour; we should bring to His service all that we can invent in the way of

ubt that Mab was not in the church, and believing that she was unwell after the shock of Jentham's attack on the previous night, George withdrew his attention from the congregation, and settled himself to listen attentively to the anthem. It was worthy of the cathedral, and higher praise cannot be given. 'I have blotted out as a thick cloud,' sang the boy soloist in a clear sweet treble, 'I have blotted out thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins.' Then came the triumphant cry of the choir, borne on the rich waves of sound rolling from the organ, 'Return unto me, for I have redeemed t

dle's departure for London, so Cargrim had little difficulty in concluding that the bishop had drawn the next cheque in London, and had torn out the butt to which it had been attached. This showed, as the chaplain very truly thought, that Dr Pendle was desirous of concealing not only the amount of the cheque-since he had kept no note of the sum on the butt-but of hiding the fact that the cheque had been drawn at all. This conduct, coupled with the fact of Jentham's allusion to Tom Tiddler's ground, and his snatch of extempore song, confirmed Cargrim in his suspicions that Pendle had visited London for the purpose of drawing out a large sum of money, and intended to pay the same over to Jentham that very night on Southberry Heath. With this

after-church gossip on this presumed cause of the excellent sermon they had heard, and when the preacher appeared he was congratulated on all sides. Miss Tancred for once forgot her purse story, and absolutely squeaked, in the highest of keys, in her efforts to ma

owed how grateful such homage was to his vain nature. At that moment he saw himself a future bishop, and that at no very great distance of time. Indeed, had the election of such a prelat

im. 'I dare say he thinks he is the greatest man in Beorminster

been clever enough to hoodwink George, hated him with all the fervour and malice of his petty soul. However, he hoped soon to have the power to wound Captain Pendle through his father, so he could afford to smi

ed, her bright little eyes dancing. 'You quite frightened m

'm sure,' said the

ated the old maid as a rival practitioner amongst the poor, 'and that is, you did n

icroscope, Mrs Pansey. I did not b

y, I thought that your sweet niece looked the very picture of h

th a disparaging glance. 'Your face is pale and

!' cried the ou

ou must allow me to speak my mind

so very unpleas

own guest, 'but Miss Whichello doesn't often hear it,' with a dig at her rival. 'Come away,

an angry glance at Mrs Pansey, 'and illustrate i

ators scuttled out of the way. How the situation would have ended it is impossible to say, as the two ladies were equally matched, but Geor

I am so glad to see you; and thank you

it was nothing,' mur

ciously. 'Do you know, ladies, that Miss Arden was attacked

ng an admiring look on George's handsome face, w

position of being attacked by a tramp?' asked Mrs P

d Miss Whichello. 'Captain Pendle, come home with me to lu

e latter because he knew that Captain Pendle did not want him to come. As Miss

know for a fact that she weighs out the food in scales.'