noted that Dr. Rannage hesitated and seemed
to be groping for a suitable reply. That in itself was ominous and
affected the gathering.

"You see," he began, "I have had little opportunity of hearing this
young man. Although he has been my curate for the past two years, he
has spoken but a few times at St. Margaret's. The people there are
extremely particular and decidedly intellectual, and so prefer to
listen to their rector."

It was with considerable difficulty that Douglas repressed a chuckle at
these words. He knew very well how jealous Dr. Rannage was of his own
ability as a speaker, and he had always taken it for granted that the
members of St. Margaret's would rather hear him than any one else,
especially a curate. He knew something, too, about his views of
country people, as he had heard him speak about them in no flattering
manner on several occasions. To him they were a heavy, ignorant lot,
unrefined, and only a step removed from the beasts of the field. He
had expected at the outset of his address that he would say something
which would arouse the anger of the people of Rixton, and so was not
surprised at his tactless remarks. He noted the feeling of indignation
which was pervading the room, and the whispered conversations which
were going on.

"So the new parson was pitched out of St. Margaret's, was he?" a man
questioned.

"Oh, no, not 'pitched out,'" Dr. Rannage explained. "He left of his
own accord."

"Why?" the same voice asked. "Couldn't he stand up to the job?"

"Not exactly. He was a hard worker, but he found it almost impossible
to understand the ways, ah, how shall I put it? of refined society.
That is, he could not mingle freely with the social element which is so
prominent at St. Margaret's. He preferred the lower life, such as is
found along the water-front, and in the poorer sections of the city.
He was more at home there."

"I am afraid, sir, that the new parson will not suit here," the
chairman announced. "According to your words, he is not a gentleman,
and does not understand the ways of polite society. Now, we want a man
all can respect, who understands his people, and yet who has the true
ring of a natural born gentleman."

"Who is he, anyway?" a man asked. "Where did he come from?"

"He was brought up on a farm, and worked his way through college," Dr.
Rannage explained. "He understands country ways and should suit very
nicely here."

"Why don't ye say 'the bu