this note?"

"I thought Grasmere was a lake in the north?"

"Yes; but Mr. Melville chose to call the cottage by the name of the
lake. I think the first picture he ever sold was a view of Wordsworth's
house there. Here is my note to ask Mrs. Cameron to meet you; but if you
object to be my messenger--"

"Object! my dear Mrs. Braefield. As you say, I pass close by the
cottage."

CHAPTER IV.

KENELM went with somewhat rapid pace from Mrs. Braefield's to the shop
in the High Street kept by Will Somers. Jessie was behind the counter,
which was thronged with customers. Kenelm gave her a brief direction
about his portmanteau, and then passed into the back parlour, where
her husband was employed on his baskets,--with the baby's cradle in
the corner, and its grandmother rocking it mechanically, as she read a
wonderful missionary tract full of tales of miraculous conversions: into
what sort of Christians we will not pause to inquire.

"And so you are happy, Will?" said Kenelm, seating himself between the
basket-maker and the infant; the dear old mother beside him, reading the
tract which linked her dreams of life eternal with life just opening
in the cradle that she rocked. He not happy! How he pitied the man who
could ask such a question.

"Happy, sir! I should think so, indeed. There is not a night on which
Jessie and I, and mother too, do not pray that some day or other you may
be as happy. By and by the baby will learn to pray 'God bless papa, and
mamma, grandmamma, and Mr. Chillingly.'"

"There is some one else much more deserving of prayers than I, though
needing them less. You will know some day: pass it by now. To return to
the point: you are happy; if I asked why, would you not say, 'Because I
have married the girl I love, and have never repented'?"

"Well, sir, that is about it; though, begging your pardon, I think it
could be put more prettily somehow."

"You are right there. But perhaps love and happiness never yet found any
words that could fitly express them. Good-bye, for the present."

Ah! if it were as mere materialists, or as many middle-aged or elderly
folks, who, if materialists, are so without knowing it, unreflectingly
say, "The main element of happiness is bodily or animal health and
strength," that question which Chillingly put would appear a very
unmeaning or a very insulting one addressed to a pale cripple, who
however improved of late in health, would still be sickly and ailing
all his