332 TENANTS OF AN OLD FAR.U. 



the eftect upon tliem. The Mistress flushed, turned pale, 

 then flushed again, and I caught tlie light of a tear 

 twinkling in her eye ere she dropped her face upon her 

 fan. Abby started as though struck, looked at me, 

 then at the Mistress on one side, then at Peuu Townes 

 on the other, clasped her hands — T thought at first she 

 meant to clap them — drew her lips under her teeth as 

 though to suppress an audible utterance of surprise, 

 and at last a radiant smile broke over her glowing face. 

 Old Dan sat on the corner of a bench before the stove, 

 bowed over on his arms and rocking his body to and 

 fro. As the Doctor spoke my name he sat bolt upright, 

 dropped his broad palms with a loud smack upon his 

 knees, rolled his eyes to their full rotundit}% pursed up 

 his thick lips, and blew through them till he fairly 

 whistled. As I rose to go into the galler}^ I heard him 

 say in a deep sotto voce : 



"Bress de Lor'! Mars Mayfier ! Well, dat takes 

 de cakes !" 



THE LECTURE. 



" I am sure you are all surprised," T began. " to hear 

 my name s])oken as one who shall address you to-day. 

 You cannot bo more surprised tliai: T was when our 

 good friend the Doctor first asked me to occupy this 

 place. I have never before addressed a religious meet- 

 ing of any kind. Perhaps I speak this to my shame ; 

 but my duty has never seemed to lie in tliat direction, 

 and I mention it now simply to say that the whole re- 

 sponsibility of my appearance here on this holy daj' as 



