king woman, with a gentle face, was standing before a
painting just come home and hung up; to look at which the Rector and
his wife had gone into the room.

It was the portrait of a sweet-looking girl with a sunny countenance. The
features were of the delicate contour of Mrs. Ashton's; the rich brown
hair, the soft brown eyes, and the intellectual expression of the face
resembled the doctor's. Altogether, face and portrait were positively
charming; one of those faces you must love at first sight, without
waiting to question whether or not they are beautiful.

"Is it a good likeness, Jabez?" asked the Rector, whilst Mrs. Ashton made
room for him with a smile of greeting.

"As like as two peas, sir," responded Jabez, when he had taken a long
look. "What a face it is! Oftentimes it comes across my mind when I am
not thinking of anything but business; and I'm always the better for it."

"Why, Jabez, this is the first time you have seen it."

"Ah, ma'am, you know I mean the original. There's two baptisms to-day,
sir," he added, turning away; "two, and one churching. Mrs. Luttrell and
her child, and the poor little baby whose mother died."

"Mrs. Luttrell!" repeated the Rector. "It's soon for her, is it not?"

"They want to go away to the seaside," replied the clerk. "What about
that notice, sir?"

"I'll see to it before Sunday, Jabez. Any news?"

"No, sir; not that I've heard of. My wife wanted to persuade me she
saw--"

At this moment a white-haired old serving-man entered the room with
a note, claiming the Rector's attention. "The man's to take back the
answer, sir, if you please."

"Wait then, Simon."

Old Simon stood aside, and the clerk, turning to Mrs. Ashton, continued
his unfinished sentence.

"She wanted to persuade me she saw young Lord Hartledon pass at six
o'clock this morning. A very likely tale that, ma'am."

"Perhaps she dreamt it, Jabez," said Mrs. Ashton, quietly.

Jabez chuckled; but what he would have answered was interrupted by the
old servant.

"It's Mr. Elster that's come; not Lord Hartledon."

"Mr. Elster! How do you know, Simon?" asked Mrs. Ashton.

"The gardener mentioned it, ma'am, when he came in just now," was the
servant's reply. "He said he saw Mr. Elster walk past this morning, as if
he had just come by the luggage-train. I'm not sure but he spoke to him."

"The answer is 'No,' Simon," interposed the Rector, alluding to the note
he had been reading. "But you can send word