ch was calculated to frustrate the dearest desire of
my heart.

This, however, is what I did. I waited for some few minutes in a state
of indecision, then it occurred to me that I had better find an inn, so
that I might leave Eli in a place of safety, and on looking round I
quickly found a kiddleywink. Here I left Eli, and after telling the
landlady to cook some supper, I again went back to the front of the old
Manor House. Fearing to be seen, I wandered around the place, and saw
that the walls around the garden were over fifteen feet high, and that
from no position could I look over, except by climbing one of the huge
trees that grew in the near distance. Never in my life had I realised
the meaning of silence as I realised it then. Not a breath of wind
stirred, and beyond the sound of the brook as it rippled down the
valley, nothing was to be heard. To me it seemed like the home of the
dead. "How can I discover what is behind those walls?" I asked myself,
but no answer was forthcoming.

Twice did I walk around the house and gardens, and was about to go back
to the inn again, when I heard the sound of singing. I listened
intently, and discovered that the singers were within the Manor House,
and from the number of voices and the nature of the singing, I concluded
that the inmates were taking part in some religious service. I stood
like one entranced, for the music was very sweet, and it seemed to my
excited imagination that Naomi's voice mingled with the rest. Presently
it died away, and I heard the sound of footsteps. But there was no loud
voices or confusion, neither was there any laughter; all was quiet,
orderly, and subdued.

The night was not dark, for the clouds which hung so heavily in the sky
during the morning had been swept away, and innumerable stars shone
brightly.

As I watched, I saw a man, who, from his garb, I took to be a priest. I
went up to him and saw that I was right in my surmise.

"I am a stranger to these parts," I said, "and have travelled far
to-day. May I ask if this is a monastery or religious house?"

"No, young man, it is not a monastery, but the house of a Catholic
gentleman."

"I heard the sound of many voices just now. I thought I heard a mass
being sung," I said.

"You are right, young man."

"If it had been a monastery I should have asked for shelter to-night," I
said; "and from the number of voices singing mass, I concluded that it
was a religious institution."

"Souls th