r on
subjects which, though near his heart, were too commonly pushed out of
his thoughts by the pressure of daily and hourly engagements. For his
was the experience so common in these days of multiplied occupations and
ceaseless coming and going: he could find no time for pause, no time for
serious meditation on subjects other than those which demanded daily the
full concentration of his thoughts. He was not unconscious that he was
moving on all the while through higher and nobler things than those
which he was pursuing, just as we are conscious of the beauties of some
lovely scenery, glimpses of which flash upon us on either side, as we
dash on by rail at express speed to our journey's end; but, at the same
time, he was painfully aware that he was really living not merely amidst
but _for_ the things which are seen and temporal, without any settled
and steady aim at the things which are not seen and are eternal. So he
hoped that his visit to Ernest Maltby might be helpful to him by
bringing him into an intellectual and spiritual atmosphere entirely
different in tone from that with which he was surrounded in his London
home and society. He had seen the true beauty and felt the persuasive
force of holiness, in his previous intercourse with the vicar of
Crossbourne; and he believed that it might do him good to see and feel
them again, as exhibited in the character and conversation of his
friend.

He was also very anxious that his wife should learn some practical
wisdom from the Maltbys, which might guide her into the way of making
her home happier both to herself and to him. It is true that things had
considerably improved since the Christmas-eve when the doctor found her
absent from home. His words of loving remonstrance had sunk deeply into
her heart, and she had profited by them. She had managed to curtail her
engagements, and to be more at home, especially when she knew that her
husband was counting upon her society. Still, there were many self-
imposed duties to which she devoted time and strength which could ill be
spared, and in the performance of which she was wearing herself down; so
the forced interruption of these by her visit to Crossbourne was looked
upon by her husband with secret but deep satisfaction.

The only drawback to their visit was that neither Mrs Maltby nor her
daughter would be at home; but Mr Maltby had begged them not to
postpone their visit on this account, as his sister, Miss Maltby,