r Roberts, with a sigh. _He_ could
not have said that. After a moment's thought he added--"Raise Hartley
twopence by the week; and take you twenty pounds by the year instead of
sixteen as now."

"I thank you, Master," said Roger warmly: "but it was not for that."

"I know--I know!" answered the master, as he held out his hand to clasp
that of his manager--a rare and high favour at that time. And then,
suddenly, came one of those unexpected, overpowering heart-pourings,
which have been said to be scarcely more under the control of the giver
than of the recipient. "Hall, I could not have done this thing. How
come you to have such strength and courage? Would I had them!"

"Master, I have neither, save as I fetch them from Him that hath. `I
can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.'"

"He doth not strengthen me!" moaned the weak man.

"Have you asked Him, Master?" quietly replied the strong one.

Mr Roberts made no answer, and Roger knew that meant a negative. In
his heart the master was conscious that he had not asked. He had said
multitudinous "paters" and "aves," had repeated "Hail Marys" by the
score--all the while half thinking of something else; but never once in
his inmost soul had he said to the Lord--"Saviour, I am weak; make me
strong." A few minutes' silence, and Mr Roberts turned back to the
accounts, half-ashamed that he had allowed that glimpse of his true self
to be seen. And Roger Hall said no more, except to God.

The master went home to supper at four o'clock. Ten was then the hour
for dinner, four for supper; people who kept late hours made it eleven
and five. As Mr Roberts came in sight of his own door, his heart sank
down into his shoes. On the door-step stood a black-robed figure which
he knew only too well, and which he would gladly have given a handful of
gold to know he might have no chance of seeing for a month to come. A
faint idea of hiding himself in the shrubs crossed his mind for a
moment; but he could not stay there for an indefinite time, and the
priest would in all probability wait for him, if it were he whom he
meant to see. No, it would be better to go forward and get it over; but
it was with a fervid wish that it were over that Mr Roberts went on and
deferentially saluted his Rector.

That reverend gentleman thoroughly understood his man. Had it been
possible to gauge the human soul with a thermometer, he could have
guessed with accuracy how it woul