52 TALES OF PINK AND SILK. 



a cricket cap on his head, a pipe in his mouth, and dressed in 

 a black Norfolk jacket, knickers and stockings, but wearing a 

 small white tie neatly tied in a bow. Many mornings in the 

 week did this burly figure appear on the training grounds, 

 and soon the trainers began to wish him " Good morning," 

 and the stable boys to touch their caps to him. William 

 learnt that he was the new curate at the parish church. 



There was a trial one morning, and William was ensconced 

 as usual behind his favourite gorse bushes, Avhen suddenly he 

 heard the thud of feet behind him, a shadow appeared on the 

 ground in front of him, and the next moment he was crushed 

 to the earth by the weight of a heav}^ body. Gasping for 

 breath he struggled to his feet, and there lay the new curate, 

 laughing uproariously. 



'■' Not hurt, young 'un, I hope ? " he said. 



" No, sir ; I'm all right, thank you." 



" I had no idea you Avere there, or I should not have 

 jumped that bush by way of a short cut. Why ! you are the 

 little chap that I see here so often. What brings you here so 

 early, eh?" 



"The mornings are so fine just now, and I like to see 

 the horses galloping, sir." 



*' So do I, youngster. I am passionately fond of a good 

 horse, and those breez}^ downs or wolds, or whatever you call 

 them, are a capital place for a spin before breakfast, and fit 

 one for the day's work far more than do two hours spent in 

 bed instead." 



They went down to the town together ; and as time passed 

 a friendship grew up between them — a friendship that Jabez 

 emphatically forbade as soon as he became aware of it. The 

 Rev. Montague Talbot adopted a different method of teaching 

 the Gospel to that adopted by Jabez ; consequently, it was a 

 wrong one. Mr. Talbot tried to impress upon his flock that 

 the Christian religion was not meant to be a miserable one, 



