nt on. 'Ay--though weaker and more infirmly guarded, I believe
they are better; for everyone is so much the better, by how much he
comes nearer to God; and man in nothing is more like him than in being
merciful. Yet woman is far more merciful than man. God is said to be
love; and I am sure in that quality woman everywhere transcends.'

The doctor's serious discourses were a mosaic of old divines and
essayists, and Greek and Latin authors, as the writings of the Apostolic
Fathers are, in a great measure, a tesselation of holy writ. He assumed
that everybody knew where to find them. His business was only to repeat
the truth wherever gleaned. So I can't tell how much was the doctor's
and how much theirs.

And when he had done upon this theme, and had risen to take leave, he
said in his gentle and simple way--

'And I brought you a little present--a necklace and
ear-rings--old-fashioned, I'm afraid--they were my dear mother's
diamonds, and were to have been--'

Here there was a little pause--they knew what was in his mind--and he
dried his eyes quickly.

'And won't you take them, Gertie, for poor little Lily's keepsake? And
so--well, well--little Gerty--I taught you your catechism--dear, dear!
Little Gerty going to be married! And may God Almighty bless her to you,
and you to her, with length of days, and all goodness; and with
children, the inheritors of your fair forms, and all your graces, to
gladden your home with love and duty, and to close your eyes at last
with tender reverence; and to walk after you, when your time is over, in
the same happy and honourable paths.'

Miss Gertrude was crying, and with two quick little steps she took his
knotted old hand, and kissed it fervently and said--

'I thank you, Sir, you've always been so good to me; I wish I could tell
you--and won't you come to us, Sir, and see us very often--when we are
settled--and bring good Mr. Loftus, and dear old Sally; and thank you,
Sir, with all my heart, for your beautiful presents, and for your noble
advice, Sir, which I will never forget, and for your blessing, and I
wish I could show you how very much I love and reverence you.'

And my Lord Dunoran, though he was smiling, looked as if he had been
crying too. But men, you know, don't like to be detected in that
weakness, though everybody knows there are moments when _bonus Homerus
dormitat_.

Good Doctor Walsingham made Dan Loftus his curate. But when in the
course of time a day came w