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hand； by his own fireside he was considerate； forbearing； and
humble almost to a fault。 As a necessary result of this singular
inconsistency of character； he was feared； and sometimes even
disliked； by the members of his congregation who only knew him as
their pastor； and he was prized and loved by the small circle of
friends who also knew him as a man。
Those friends gathered round him more closely and more
affectionately than ever after his marriage； not on his own
account only； but influenced also by the attractions that they
found in the society of his wife。 Her refinement and gentleness
of manner； her extraordinary accomplishments as a musician； her
unvarying sweetness of temper； and her quick； winning； womanly
intelligence in conversation； charmed every one who approached
her。 She was quoted as a model wife and woman by all her
husband's friends； and she amply deserved the character that they
gave her。 Although no children came to cheer it； a happier and a
more admirable married life has seldom been witnessed in this
world than the life which was once to be seen in the rectory
house at Penliddy。
With these necessary explanations； that preliminary part of my
narrative of which the events may be massed together generally；
for brevity's sake； comes to a close。 What I have next to tell is
of a deeper and a more serious interest； and must be carefully
related in detail。
The rector and his wife had lived together without； as I honestly
believe； a harsh word or an unkind look once passing between them
for upward of two years； when Mr。 Carling took his first step
toward the fatal future that was awaiting him by devoting his
leisure hours to the apparently simple a nd harmless occupation
of writing a pamphlet。
He had been connected for many years with one of our great
Missionary Societies； and had taken as active a part as a country
clergyman could in the management of its affairs。 At the period
of which I speak； certain influential members of the society had
proposed a plan for greatly extending the sphere of its
operations； trusting to a proportionate increase in the annual
subscriptions to defray the additional expenses of the new
movement。 The question was not now brought forward for the first
time。 It had been agitated eight years previously； and the
settlement of it had been at that time deferred to a future
opportunity。 The revival of the project； as usual in such cases；
split the working members of the society into two parties； one
party cautiously objecting to run any risks； the other hopefully
declaring that the venture was a safe one； and that success was
sure to attend it。 Mr。 Carling sided enthusiastically with the
members who espoused this latter side of the question； and the
object of his pamphlet was to address the subscribers to the
society on the subject； and so to interest them in it as to win
their charitable support； on a larger scale than usual； to the
new project。
He had worked hard at his pamphlet； and had got more than half
way through it； when he found himself brought to a stand…still
for want of certain facts which had been produced on the
discussion of the question eight years since； and which were
necessary to the full and fair statement of his case。
At first he thought of writing to the secretary of the society
for information； but； remembering that he had not held his office
more than two years； he had thought it little likely that this
gentleman would be able to help him； and looked back to his own
Diary of the period to see if he had made any notes in it
relating to the original discussion of the affair。 He found a
note referring in general terms only to the matter in hand； but
alluding at the end to a report in the _Times_ of the proceedings
of a deputation from the society which had waited on a member of
the government of that day； and to certain letters to the editor
which had followed the publication of the report。 The note
described these letters as 〃very important；〃 and Mr。 Carling
felt； as he put his Diary away again； that the successful
conclusion of his pamphlet now depended on his being able to get
access to the back numbers of the _Times_ of eight years since。
It was winter time when he was thus stopped in his work； and the
prospect of a journey to London （the only place he knew of at
which files of the paper were to be found） did not present many
attractions； and yet he could see no other and easier means of
effecting his object。 After considering for a little while and
arriving at no positive conclusion； he left the study； and went
into the drawing…room to consult his wife。
He found her working industriously by the blazing fire。 She
looked so happy and comfortableso gentle and charming in her
pretty little lace cap； and her warm brown morning…dress； with
its bright cherry…colored ribbons； and its delicate swan's down
trimming circling round her neck and nestling over her bosom；
that he stooped and kissed her with the tenderness of his
bridegroom days before he spoke。 When he told her of the cause
that had suspended his literary occupation； she listened； with
the sensation of the kiss still lingering in her downcast eyes
and her smiling lips； until he came to the subject of his Diary
and its reference to the newspaper。
As he mentioned the name of the _Times_ she altered and looked
him straight in the face gravely。
〃Can you suggest any plan； love；〃 he went on； 〃which may save me
the necessity of a journey to London at this bleak time of the
year？ I must positively have this information； and； so far as I
can see； London is the only place at which I can hope to meet
with a file of the _Times_。〃
〃A file of the _Times？_〃 she repeated。
〃Yesof eight years since；〃 he said。
The instant the words passed his lips he saw her face overspread
by a ghastly paleness； her eyes fixed on him with a strange
mixture of rigidity and vacancy in their look； her hands； with
her work held tight in them； dropped slowly on her lap； and a
shiver ran through her from head to foot。
He sprang to his feet； and snatched the smelling…salts from her
work…table； thinking she was going to faint。 She put the bottle
from her； when he offered it； with a hand that thrilled him with
the deadly coldness of its touch； and said； in a whisper：
〃A sudden chill； dearlet me go upstairs and lie down。〃
He took her to her room。 As he laid her down on the bed； she
caught his hand； and said； entreatingly：
〃You won't go to London； darling； and leave me here ill？〃
He promised that nothing should separate him from her until she
was well again； and then ran downstairs to send for the doctor。
The doctor came； and pronounced that Mrs。 Carling was only
suffering from a nervous attack； that there was not the least
reason to be alarmed； and that； with proper care； she would be
well again in a few days。
Both husband and wife had a dinner engagement in the town for
that evening。 Mr。 Carling proposed to write an apology and to
remain with his wife。 But she would not hear of his abandoning
the party on her account。 The doctor also recommended that his
patient should be left to her maid's care； to fall asleep under
the influence of the quieting medicine which he meant to give
her。 Yielding to this advice； Mr。 Carling did his best to
suppress his own anxieties； and went to the dinner…party。
CHAPTER II。
AMONG the guests whom the rector met was a gentleman named
Rambert； a single man of large fortune； well known in the
neighborhood of Penliddy as the owner of a noble country…seat and
the possessor of a magnificent library。
Mr。 Rambert （with whom Mr。 Carling was well acquainted） greeted
him at the dinner…party with friendly expressions of regret at
the time that had elapsed since they had last seen each other；
and mentioned that he had recently been adding to his collection
of books some rare old volumes of theology； which he thought the
rector might find it useful to look over。 Mr。 Carling； with the
necessity of finishing his pamphlet uppermost in his mind；
replied； jestingly； that the species of literature which he was
just then most interested in examining happened to be precisely
of the sort which （excepting novels； perhaps） had least affinity
to theological writing。 The necessary explanation followed this
avowal as a matter of course； and； to Mr。 Carling's great
delight； his friend turned on him gayly with the most surprising
and satisfactory of answers：
〃You don't know half the resources of my miles of bookshelves；〃
he said； 〃or you would never have thought of going to London for
what you can get from me。 A whole side of one of my rooms
upstairs is devoted to periodical literature。 I have reviews；
magazines； and three weekly newspapers； bound； in each case； from
the first number； and； what is just now more to your purpose； I
have the _Times_ for the last fifteen years in huge half…yearly
volumes。 Give me the date to…night； and you shall have the volume
you want by two o'clock to…morrow afternoon。〃
The necessary information was given at once； and； with a great
sense of relief； so far as his literary anxieties were concerned；
Mr。 Carling went home early to see wha