is conversation during the last
half-hour would have interested him almost as much as it has done
me."

Mr Bradshaw little guessed the truth, that Mr Donne was, at that
very moment, coaching up the various subjects of public interest in
Eccleston, and privately cursing the particular subject on which
Mr Benson had been holding forth, as being an unintelligible piece
of Quixotism; or the leading Dissenter of the town need not have
experienced a pang of jealousy at the possible future admiration his
minister might excite in the possible future member for Eccleston.
And if Mr Benson had been clairvoyant, he need not have made an
especial subject of gratitude out of the likelihood that he might
have an opportunity of so far interesting Mr Donne in the condition
of the people of Eccleston as to induce him to set his face against
any attempts at bribery.

Mr Benson thought of this half the night through; and ended by
determining to write a sermon on the Christian view of political
duties, which might be good for all, both electors and member, to
hear on the eve of an election. For Mr Donne was expected at Mr
Bradshaw's before the next Sunday; and, of course, as Mr and Miss
Benson had settled it, he would appear at the chapel with them on
that day. But the stinging conscience refused to be quieted. No
present plan of usefulness allayed the aching remembrance of the evil
he had done that good might come. Not even the look of Leonard, as
the early dawn fell on him, and Mr Benson's sleepless eyes saw the
rosy glow on his firm round cheeks; his open mouth, through which the
soft, long-drawn breath came gently quivering; and his eyes not fully
shut, but closed to outward sight--not even the aspect of the quiet,
innocent child could soothe the troubled spirit.

Leonard and his mother dreamt of each other that night. Her dream of
him was one of undefined terror--terror so great that it wakened her
up, and she strove not to sleep again, for fear that ominous ghastly
dream should return. He, on the contrary, dreamt of her sitting
watching and smiling by his bedside, as her gentle self had been many
a morning; and when she saw him awake (so it fell out in the dream),
she smiled still more sweetly, and bending down she kissed him, and
then spread out large, soft, white-feathered wings (which in no way
surprised her child--he seemed to have known they were there all
along), and sailed away through the open window far into the blue
sk