u."

Mr. Furze had retreated into a dark corner, and was putting on his
waistcoat with his back to his distinguished guest. Catharine sat at the
window quite immovable. Suddenly Mrs. Furze bethought herself she ought
to introduce her husband and daughter.

"My husband and daughter, Mrs. Colston."

Mr. Furze turned half round, put his other arm into his waistcoat, and
bowed. He had, of course, spoken to her scores of times in his shop, but
he was not supposed to have seen her till that minute. Catharine rose,
bowed, and sat down again.

"Take a chair, Mrs. Colston, take a chair," said Mr. Furze, although he
had again turned towards the curtain, and was struggling with his coat.
Mrs. Furze, annoyed that her husband had anticipated her, pulled the easy-
chair forward.

"I am afraid I deprived you of your seat," said the lady, alluding, as
Mrs. Furze had not the slightest doubt, to his tumble.

"Not a bit, ma'am, not a bit," and he moved towards Catharine, feeling
very uncomfortable, and not knowing what to do with his hands and legs.

"We are so much obliged to you, Mrs. Furze, for your subscription to the
restoration fund, we find that a new pulpit is much required; the old
pulpit, you will remember, is much decayed in parts, and will be out of
harmony with the building when it is renovated. Young Mr. Cawston, who
is being trained as an architect--the builder's son, you know--has
prepared a design which is charming, and the ladies wish to make the new
pulpit a present solely from themselves." The smoke got into Mrs.
Colston's throat, and she coughed. "We want you, therefore, to help us."

"With the greatest pleasure."

"Then how much shall I say? Five pounds?"

"Would you allow me just to look at the subscription list?" interposed
Mr. Furze, humbly; but before it could be handed to him Mrs. Furze had
settled the matter.

"Five pounds--oh yes, certainly, Mrs. Colston. Mr. Cawston is, I
believe, a young man of talent?"

"Undoubtedly, and he deserves encouragement. It must be most gratifying
to his father to see his son endeavouring to raise himself from a
comparatively humble occupation and surroundings into something demanding
ability and education, from a mere trade into a profession."

Catharine shifted uneasily, raised her eyes, and looked straight at Mrs.
Colston but said nothing.

Meanwhile Mr. Furze was perusing the list with both elbows on his knees.
The difficulty with his hands and legs