rs, and the times in which they lived; but it was all
said and done with a decent and even solemn gravity suitable to the
occasion, and it ceased as the minister drew near.

Another gleam of sunshine broke out between the clouds as the pony
stopped of his own accord. The minister took off his hat and said
solemnly:

"As a cloud is consumed and slowly vanishes away, so he that goeth down
to the grave shall come up no more.

"He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him
any more."

At the first sound of his voice every "blue bonnet" was lifted and every
head was bowed, and then, pausing for no greetings, the minister and his
son passed into the house.

But the younger man saw there no "kenned face," so he did not linger
within, but came out again to stand with the rest.

The house was a long, low-roofed cottage, with a wide door and narrow
windows. The door opened on the side which faced the barns and
outbuildings, and the first glimpse of the place was dreary and sad.
For the rain had left little pools here and there on the ground, and had
made black mud of the rest of it, not pleasant to look upon. After a
glance to ascertain whether there were any of his old friends among the
waiting people, Mr Hadden turned toward the garden, which lay on the
other side of the house.

There was a hawthorn hedge on two sides of it, and a beech-tree, and
many berry-bushes, and tall rose-trees covered with "drooket" roses, and
the ground beneath was strewn with their scattered petals. The garden
had a dreary look also, but he was not left to it long. For though he
had recognised no one about the door, many a one had recognised him, and
in a little time one man slowly followed another to the garden-gate,
where he leaned, and hands "with a strong grip in them" were held out
and grasped, and not one but said how glad they were to see him home
again for his father's sake. And by and by as they waited, one after
another had something to say and a question to ask.

There was time enough. The minister had to rest awhile and refresh
himself, and the burial-bread had to be passed round, and that which
usually accompanied it as well. Besides, there was no haste, for they
had given the day to do honour to the occasion; and if they got safely
home before it was very late, it was all that they expected or desired.

The questions were asked with lowered voices and in softened tones, but
they were asked eage