"The identical personage!" replies Ida, with pride. "A high compliment to so young a preacher!"
"He is a man of superior talents," pronounces Mr. Lacy; "a divine of Ida's making."
"Of Mr. Lacy's, you mean—and maybe, after all, the Sabbath-school is entitled to the honour of teaching him that the healing of men's souls, not their bodies, was his vocation. Dr. Hall and I had a pitched battle whenever we met, over our interference with his pupil, until his trial-sermon, which was delivered in our church. The Doctor strode across the aisle, at the close of the services, wiping his eyes. 'I forgive you, madam, and that meddling husband of yours! My stars! what a parson I was near spoiling!'"
"Does Miss Laura meet your wishes, as Mrs. Latham's successor?'"
"Entirely. Mr. Lacy supports her authority, or the stigma attached to her father's memory would weaken her influence. She looks sad to-night. It is the third anniversary of his miserable end."
"He was burnt alive—was he not?"
"It is supposed so. He was found dead—his body partly consumed—upon the hearth of his room. Probably he fell down in a drunken fit. The blow was almost too great for Laura's reason. Natural affection covered the remembrance of all his faults. The children were taken by their mother's relations, to whom he would not allow them to go, in his life-time. Laura has continued with us."
"Still a passion for protegés! The last time I saw Miss Read, she inquired what your newest hobby was."
"What did you reply?" inquires Mr. Lacy.