38 ST. ALBANS 



caj)acity and the wants and weaknesses of our nature. 

 His sudden departure preceded mine but a few months, 

 and he afterwards turned up at a beautiful little spot in 

 Hertfordshire, that lay in the way of my frequent pere- 

 grinations to the shrine of the Saint to whom I was 

 afterwards so much indebted. I seldom passed it with- 

 out calling, and was pleased to find the Doctor had once 

 more entered into the bonds of matrimony, had abated 

 much of his original propensity, and appeared to be in 

 the enjoyment of all the comforts of life. 



About this time I became acquainted with a gentle- 

 man at St. Albans, who had somethinfr in common with 

 myself in regard to outdoor amusement or employment. 

 Occupying a farm a short distance from the town, he 

 managed to keep two or three couple of beagles ; and I 

 would frequently ride back from Redbourn on one of the 

 up-coaches, after my journey do^m, to accompany him 

 on foot to his farm, and regale my ears with the music 

 his little 23ack would develop when they got upon the 

 track of a rabbit or a hare. 



It was not long after this that St. Albans had a far 

 greater attraction in an object pointed out to me by my 

 friend in the Abbey Church, whither I had accompanied 

 him to attend divine service — an observance, from my 

 coach travelling on a Sunday, I had, to my shame be it 

 spoken, almost discontinued, of which neglect some 

 inward monitor now and then reminded me : and there- 

 fore did I readilv accept my friend's invitation, more par- 

 ticularly as it was Easter Sunday, and I had never 

 seen the interior of that venerable pile. 



There was something always in the return of this day 



