art here."

"Oh, my friends," said the preacher, "just consider that it is this upon
which Jesus, the Son of God, has put His stamp, not the lecture, not
chastisement, not expiation, but an instant unquestioning embrace, no
matter what the wrong may have been. If you say this is dangerous
doctrine, I say it is _here_. What other meaning can you give to it? At
the same time I am astonished to find it here, astonished that
priestcraft and the enemy of souls should not have erased it. Sacred
truth! Is it not moving to think of all the millions of men who for
eighteen hundred years have read this parable, philosophers and peasants,
in every climate, and now are we reading it to-day! Is it not
moving--nay, awful--to think of all the good it has done, of the sweet
stream of tenderness, broad and deep, which has flowed down from it
through all history? History would all have been different if this
parable had never been told."

Mr. Cardew paused, and after his emotion had a little subsided he
concluded by an appeal on behalf of the infirmary. He inserted a saving
clause on Christ's mediatorial work, but it had no particular connection
with the former part of his discourse. It was spoken in a different
tone, and it satisfied the congregation that they had really heard
nothing heterodox.

Tom watched Catharine closely. He noted her eager, rapt attention, and
that she did not recover herself till the voluntary was at an end. He
went out after her; she met Mr. and Mrs. Cardew at the churchyard gates;
he saw the excitement of all three, and he saw Catharine leave her
friends at the Rectory, for they were evidently going to stay the night
there. Mrs. Cardew went into the house first, but Catharine turned down
Fosbrooke Street, a street which did not lead, save by a very roundabout
way, to the Terrace. Presently Mr. Cardew came out and walked slowly
down Rectory Lane. In those days it was hardly a thoroughfare. It ended
at the river bank, and during daylight a boat was generally there,
belonging to an old, superannuated boatman, who carried chance passengers
over to the mill meadows and saved them a walk if they wanted to go that
side of the town. A rough seat had been placed near the boat moorings
for the convenience of the ferryman's customers. At this time in the
evening the place was deserted. Tom followed Mr. Cardew, and presently
overtook him. Mr. Cardew and he knew one another slightly, for there
were fe