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 304. 'GOD'S PEACE'

I never dreamt of being such a success. 1 was feted as a prince. My friend was quite beside her- self with excitement. Not only was I introduced to the ' ladies ' in her room, but she fetched round from the other rooms and corridors all the old women who had known my parents, and seen me as a baby. They streamed in, rocking old grannies, and erect-looking spinsters, who shook me by the hand, pushed each other away, and talked against one another to be the first to tell me how clearly they remembered me, how well they had known my parents, and to inquire after every one in the family.

There was coffee to overflowing, but there was a little difficulty about the sugar-candy: the old ladies could not understand that I did not prefer lump- sugar.

When at last I went away I was seen to the door by half the institution. But I left my friend with the understanding that next time I came we should try to have a little more privacy.

XII T FOUND the other day iri the library some _!_ family records which I wanted to verify. I called therefore to-day on the vicar to ask permis- sion to look in the old registers.

He was a tall young man, with sharp features and clear, shining eyes. In the most polite way he helped me, and seemed altogether to be, from his manners, an agreeable man of the world. But we had not talked many minutes before he proved