s garden-wall! Ah! be this union between man and
woman what it may; if it be really love, really the bond which embraces
the innermost and bettermost self of both,--how daily, hourly, momently,
should we bless God for having made it so easy to be happy and to be
good!"

CHAPTER VI.

THE dinner-party at Mr. Braefield's was not quite so small as Kenelm
had anticipated. When the merchant heard from his wife that Kenelm
was coming, he thought it would be but civil to the young gentleman to
invite a few other persons to meet him.

"You see, my dear," he said to Elsie, "Mrs. Cameron is a very good,
simple sort of woman, but not particularly amusing; and Lily, though a
pretty girl, is so exceedingly childish. We owe much, my sweet Elsie,
to this Mr. Chillingly,"--here there was a deep tone of feeling in his
voice and look,--"and we must make it as pleasant for him as we can.
I will bring down my friend Sir Thomas, and you ask Mr. Emlyn and his
wife. Sir Thomas is a very sensible man, and Emlyn a very learned one.
So Mr. Chillingly will find people worth talking to. By the by, when I
go to town I will send down a haunch of venison from Groves's."

So when Kenelm arrived, a little before six o'clock, he found in the
drawing-room the Rev. Charles Emlyn, vicar of Moleswich proper, with
his spouse, and a portly middle-aged man, to whom, as Sir Thomas Pratt,
Kenelm was introduced. Sir Thomas was an eminent city banker. The
ceremonies of introduction over, Kenelm stole to Elsie's side.

"I thought I was to meet Mrs. Cameron. I don't see her."

"She will be here presently. It looks as if it might rain, and I have
sent the carriage for her and Lily. Ah, here they are!"

Mrs. Cameron entered, clothed in black silk. She always wore black; and
behind her came Lily, in the spotless colour that became her name;
no ornament, save a slender gold chain to which was appended a single
locket, and a single blush rose in her hair. She looked wonderfully
lovely; and with that loveliness there was a certain nameless air of
distinction, possibly owing to delicacy of form and colouring; possibly
to a certain grace of carriage, which was not without a something of
pride.

Mr. Braefield, who was a very punctual man, made a sign to his servant,
and in another moment or so dinner was announced. Sir Thomas, of course,
took in the hostess; Mr. Braefield, the vicar's wife (she was a dean's
daughter); Kenelm, Mrs. Cameron; and the vicar, Lily.