Audrey

Audrey, writing in a slow, fair, clerkly hand, made her period, and turned

to the Bishop's second question: "'Had you any other church before you

came to that which you now possess?'"

"'No, my Lord,'" said the minister to the Bishop; then to the ceiling: "I

came raw from the devil to this parish. Audrey, hast ever heard children

say that Satan comes and walks behind me when I go through the forest?"

"Yes," said Audrey, "but their eyes are not good. You go hand in hand."

Darden paused in the lifting of his tankard. "Thy wits are brightening,

Audrey; but keep such observations to thyself. It is only the schoolmaster

with whom I walk. Go on to the next question."

The Bishop desired to know how long the minister addressed had been

inducted into his living. The minister addressed, leaning forward, laid it

off to his Lordship how that the vestries in Virginia did not incline to

have ministers inducted, and, being very powerful, kept the poor servants

of the Church upon uneasy seats; but that he, Gideon Darden, had the love

of his flock, rich and poor, gentle and simple, and that in the first year

of his ministry the gentlemen of his vestry had been pleased to present

his name to the Governor for induction. Which explanation made, the

minister drank more rum, and looked out of the window at the orchard and

at his neighbor's tobacco.

"You are only a woman, and can hold no office, Audrey," he said, "but I

will impart to you words of wisdom whose price is above rubies. Always

agree with your vestry. Go, hat in hand, to each of its members in turn,

craving advice as to the management of your own affairs. Thunder from the

pulpit against Popery, which does not exist in this colony, and the

Pretender, who is at present in Italy. Wrap a dozen black sheep of

inferior breed in white sheets and set them arow at the church door, but

make it stuff of the conscience to see no blemish in the wealthier and

more honorable portion of your flock. So you will thrive, and come to be

inducted into your living, whether in Virginia or some other quarter of

the globe. What's the worthy Bishop's next demand? Hasten, for Hugon is

coming this morning, and there's settlement to be made of a small bet, and

a hand at cards."

By the circular letter and the lips of Audrey the Bishop proceeded to

propound a series of questions, which the minister answered with

portentous glibness. In the midst of an estimate of the value of a living

in a sweet-scented parish a face looked in at the window, and a dark and

sinewy hand laid before Audrey a bunch of scarlet columbine.