ood" as the "Powers," but
they were certainly different, by Divine decree. It would be a species
of human blasphemy, therefore, for himself not to stand up in Lord
Talgarth's presence, or for a laborer not to touch his hat to Miss
Jenny. This is sometimes called snobbishness, but it is nothing of the
kind. It is merely a marked form of Toryism.

It was a pleasant autumnal kind of afternoon, and he took off his hat as
he turned up past the park gates to feel the cool air, as he was a
little heated with his walk. He felt exceedingly content with all
things: there were no troubles in the parish, he enjoyed excellent
health, and he had just done his duty. He disliked pastoral visiting
very deeply indeed; he was essentially a timid kind of man, but he made
his rules and kept them, for he was essentially a conscientious man. He
was so conscientious that he was probably quite unaware that he disliked
this particular duty.

Just as he came opposite the gates--great iron-work affairs with ramping
eagles and a Gothic lodge smothered in ivy--the man ran out and began to
wheel them back, after a hasty salute to his pastor; and the Rector,
turning, saw a sight that increased his complacency. It was just Jenny
riding with Lord Talgarth, as he knew she was doing that afternoon.

They made a handsome, courtly kind of pair--a sort of "father and
daughter" after some romantic artist or other. Lord Talgarth's heavy
figure looked well-proportioned on horseback, and he sat his big black
mare very tolerably indeed. And Jenny looked delicious on the white
mare, herself in dark green. A groom followed twenty yards behind.

Lord Talgarth's big face nodded genially to the Rector and he made a
kind of salute; he seemed in excellent dispositions; Jenny was a little
flushed with exercise, and smiled at her father with a quiet, friendly
dignity.

"Just taking her ladyship home," said the old man.... "Yes; charming
day, isn't it?"

* * * * *

The Rector followed them, pleased at heart. Usually Jenny rode home
alone with the groom to take back her mare to the stables. It was the
first time, so far as he could remember, that Lord Talgarth had taken
the trouble to escort her all the way home himself. It really was very
pleasant indeed, and very creditable to Jenny's tact, that relations
were so cordial.... And they were dining there to-morrow, too. The
social order of Merefield seemed to be in an exceedingly sound