derable relish. What a
picture she would make sitting there, he thought. She seemed to be
wholly unaware of her charm and grace of manner, reminding him of some
beautiful flower radiating an unconscious influence of sweetness,
purity and joy.

"This is one of the most delightful afternoons I have ever spent,"
Douglas remarked. "What a beautiful place you have here, with the
river right near, and the spire of the church showing above the tree
tops. I wish I were an artist. By the way, I was around the church
this morning, and everything shows signs of neglect. It struck me as
rather sad and strange."

As there was no reply, he glanced toward Nell and was surprised to see
an anxious expression upon her face. She gave her head a slight shake
and held up a warning finger. He looked quickly at her father, and saw
that his face had undergone a remarkable change. He was sitting
motionless, clutching his cigar between the fingers of his right hand.
Presently, his lips moved and he spoke in short, jerky sentences.

"Strange, you ask?" he demanded. "Why strange? What else could be
expected? Half-fledged parsons strutting around as if they owned the
universe. Little wonder the church is closed. And what of the people?
Look at the leaders in this parish."

"Hush, hush, father, dear," Nell interposed. "Don't get excited."

"I'm not excited; I'm just stating plain facts. You know about Si
Stubbles as well as I do."

"But Mr. Handyman is a stranger, remember, father, and we must not
trouble him with such things on this his first visit."

"Excuse me, sir," and the old man leaned forward, as if he would look
into his visitor's face. "Nell is quite right; she is always right,
and I shall say no more about this painful subject to-day."

Nell at once began to gather up the neglected supper dishes, and
Douglas felt that it was about time that he was going. He noticed that
she seemed somewhat nervous and excited. At first he thought it was
due to her father's words, but as he caught her giving a quick and an
occasional glance toward the shore, he believed that she was expecting
to meet some one there in a few minutes. He wondered who it was, and
he felt that Nell was not altogether pleased at the idea of seeing the
one who was expecting to meet her there. The thought gave him
considerable satisfaction, though he could not explain why.

"You will come again soon, will you not?" the professor asked, as
Douglas b