WYLDEfCS RAJVD.
Brandon family enter Their carriage; and, this incident
over, they broke up gradually into little groups, in Sun-
day guise, and many colors, some for a ramble on the
common, and some to tea, according to the primitive hours
that ruled old Gylingden.
The Vicar, and John Hughes, clerk and sexton, were last
out; and the reverend gentleman, thin and tall, in white
necktie, and black, a little threadbare, stood on the steps
of the porch, in a sad abstraction. The sound of the oak
door closing heavily behind him and John Hughes, and the
key revolving in the lock recalled him, and with a sigh
and a smile, and a kindly nod to John, he looked up and
round on the familiar and pretty scenery undecided. It
was not quite time to go home; his troubles were heavy
upon him, too, just then; and the quiet of the road, and
the sweet air and sunshine, tempted him to walk off the
chill and fever of the fit.
As he passed the little cottage where old Widow Mad-
dock lay sick, Rachel Lake emerged. He was not glad.
He would rather have had his sad walk in his own sny
company. But there she was — he could not pass her
by; so he stopped, and lifted his hat and greeted her;
and then they shook hands. She was going his way. He
looked wistfully on the little hatch of old Widow Mad-
dock's cottage; for he felt a pang of reproach at passing
her door; but there was no comfort then in his thoughts,
only a sense of fear and hopeless fatigue.
"How is poor old Mrs. Maddock?" he asked; "you
have been visiting the sick and afflicted, and I was pass-
ing by; but, indeed, if I were capable at this moment I
should not fail to see her, poor creature."
There was something apologetic and almost miserable in
his look as he said this.
"She is not better; but you have been very good to