122 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



year ;'' Init as his church owns a coz}' manse and ample 

 glebe, he lives contentedly and even comfortably, with 

 his wife and two daughters. His home isatMarple, six 

 miles across the hills, and he has driven over to spend a 

 night at the Old Farm and renew a i)leasant friendship 

 formed during seasons when one summer had been spent 

 within his parish. 



As his rumbling old carryall turned down our avenue 

 behind the fat, chestnut-bay horse whose lazy jog-trot 

 is known through all the country side, the familiar sight 

 stirred up very pleasant thoughts. 



"My dear Doctor," I exclaimed, greeting him at the 

 gate, "you are welcome, indeed ! To what fair fortune 

 are we indebted for this pleasant surprise ?" 



The good minister was altogether too guileless to ward 

 off this direct query without uncovering the truth. He 

 blushed, hesitated and glanced appealingly at the Mis- 

 tress, who had now joined in the greeting. 



"Ah ! 1 see how it is," I said, coming to the relief of 

 the embarrassed parties; "another conspiracy in my 

 behoof!" 



"Just so, just so!" exlaimed the Doctor, nodding 

 his head with unction, while his fiice beamed a happy 

 smile. " And I 'm heartily glad the cat's out of the 

 bag, although I suspect tlm particular cat is a very 

 harmless kitten ! However, it 's all right now, and I 've 

 come to spend the evening with you." 



So I knew that the hand of the little JNIistress, the 

 true guardian angel of those invalid days, had touched 

 the spring that moved the Doctor liitherward ; as, 



