Turning to his desk, he continued his work
upon his sermon for next Sunday morning.

It was a large, comfortable study, and the walls were well lined with
books. Dr. Rannage was noted far and wide as a deep student, as well
as a great preacher. The people of St. Margaret's were proud of their
rector's ability, and listened, so they often told him, with delight to
his intellectual sermons. He was particularly at home when dealing
with the Major and Minor Prophets or on the Textual Criticism of the
Bible. Regular Pastoral Visitation he disliked, and left most of such
work to his curate, though occasionally he called upon the most
influential members of his flock. He was a special favourite in social
circles, and being a brilliant afterdinner speaker he was much in
demand to grace numerous festive gatherings. Little wonder, then, that
Dr. Rannage had no time for anything else but the preparation of his
Sunday sermons, of which work he was very fond.

To-night, however, he could not concentrate his thoughts upon his
subject. His mind would wander, and several times he found himself
thinking of the dinner he had that evening with his Bishop. He knew
that the position of Archdeacon was vacant, and he was fondly hoping
that he would be favoured with the appointment. It would be another
step, so he mused, up the ecclesiastical ladder leading to the
Episcopate.

He had forgotten all about his sermon and was thinking deeply of the
prospects of his advancement, when his curate, Douglas Stanton, entered
the room unannounced.

"You are over half an hour late, Stanton," Dr. Rannage chided, as he
motioned his visitor to a chair. "What is the meaning of this?"

"I am very sorry," Douglas replied, as he took the proffered chair. "I
intended to be here on time, but was unavoidably detained."

"I dined with the Bishop to-night," and Dr. Rannage toyed with a small
paper-weight as he spoke, "and was forced to leave in the midst of a
most important discussion in order to keep my appointment with you."

"What were you discussing?" Douglas enquired.

"We were considering the best methods of dealing with the submerged
population of our city; that is, those unfortunate beings who inhabit
the slums and the waterfront."

"Did you arrive at any definite conclusion?"

"We had not time; for, as I have just mentioned, I was forced to come
away to meet you."

"And while you were discussing methods of helping the unfortunate, I