they reached Paris. There they wintered, and there in the
spring was born a son and heir to all the Blandamer estates. The news
caused much rejoicing in the domain; and when it was announced that the
family were returning to Cullerne, it was decided to celebrate the event
by ringing a peal from the tower of Saint Sepulchre's. The proposal
originated with Canon Parkyn.

"It is a graceful compliment," he said, "to the nobleman to whose
munificence the restoration is so largely due. We must show him how
much stronger we have made our old tower, eh, Mr Westray? We must get
the Carisbury ringers over to teach Cullerne people how such things
should be done. Sir George will have to stand out of his fees longer
than ever, if he is to wait till the tower tumbles down now. Eh, eh?"

"Ah, I do so dote on these old customs," assented his wife. "It is so
delightful, a merry peal. I do think these good old customs should
always be kept up." It was the cheapness of the entertainment that
particularly appealed to her. "But is it necessary, my dear," she
demurred, "to bring the ringers over from Carisbury? They are a sad
drunken lot. I am sure there must be plenty of young men in Cullerne,
who would delight to help ring the bells on such an occasion."

But Westray would have none of it. It was true, he said, that the
tie-rods were fixed, and the tower that much the stronger; but he could
countenance no ringing till the great south-east pier had been properly
under-pinned.

His remonstrances found little favour. Lord Blandamer would think it so
ungracious. Lady Blandamer, to be sure, counted for very little; it was
ridiculous, in fact, to think of ringing the minster bells for a
landlady's niece, but Lord Blandamer would certainly be offended.

"I call that clerk of the works a vain young upstart," Mrs Parkyn said
to her husband. "I cannot think how you keep your temper with such a
popinjay. I hope you will not allow yourself to be put upon again. You
are so sweet-tempered and forbearing, that _everyone_ takes advantage of
you."

So she stirred him up till he assured her with considerable boldness
that he was _not_ a man to be dictated to; the bells _should_ be rung,
and he would get Sir George's views to fortify his own. Then Sir George
wrote one of those cheery little notes for which he was famous, with a
proper admixture of indifferent puns and a classic conceit: that when
Gratitude was climbing the temple s