jemmies and a dark
lantern sent me with a letter saying as 'ow the owner had no further use
for 'em."

The jeweller's eyes glistened with admiration not quite untinged with
envy. "Have you expounded the Word for long?" he inquired.

"Six months," replied the other. "It come to me quite natural--I was on
the penitent bench on the Saturday, and the Wednesday afterwards I
preached as good a sermon as ever I've preached in my life. Brother
Clark said it took 'is breath away."

"And he's a judge too," said the admiring jeweller.

"Now," continued Brother Burge, helping himself plentifully to pickled
walnuts. "Now there ain't standing room in our Bethel when I'm
expounding. People come to hear me from all parts--old and young--rich
and poor--and the Apostles that don't come early 'ave to stand outside
and catch the crumbs I throw 'em through the winders."

"It is enough," sighed Brother Higgs, whose own audience was frequently
content to be on the wrong side of the window, "it is enough to make a
man vain."

"I struggle against it, Brother," said Mr. Burge, passing his cup up for
some more tea. "I fight against it hard, but once the Evil One was
almost too much for me; and in spite of myself, and knowing besides that
it was a plot of 'is, I nearly felt uplifted."

Brother Higgs, passing him some more beef, pressed for details.

"He sent me two policemen," replied the other, scowling darkly at the
meanness of the trick. "One I might 'ave stood, but two come to being
pretty near too much for me. They sat under me while I gave 'em the Word
'ot and strong, and the feeling I had standing up there and telling
policemen what they ought to do I shall never forget."

"But why should policemen make you proud?" asked his puzzled listener.

Mr. Burge looked puzzled in his turn. "Why, hasn't Brother Clark told
you about me?" he inquired.

Mr. Higgs shook his head. "He sort of--suggested that--that you had been
a little bit wild before you came to us," he murmured apologetically.

"A--little--bit--wild?" repeated Brother Burge, in horrified accents.
"ME? a little bit wild?"

"No doubt he exaggerated a little," said the jeweller hurriedly. "Being
such a good man himself, no doubt things would seem wild to him that
wouldn't to us--to me, I mean."

"A little bit wild," said his visitor again. "Sam Burge, the Converted
Burglar, a little bit wild. Well, well!"

"Converted what?" shouted the jeweller, half-rising