CONTENTS.

CHAPTERPAGE
I.—The Lap of Peace[1]
II.—Fairy Faith[6]
III.—The Lych-Gate[12]
IV.—Nicie[19]
V.—A Fair Bargain[28]
VI.—Doctors Three[37]
VII.—R. I. P.[48]
VIII.—The Potato-Field[57]
IX.—The Narrow Path[66]
X.—In Charge[73]
XI.—At the Charge[80]
XII.—A Fool's Errand[87]
XIII.—The Law of The Land[101]
XIV.—Reasoning without Reason[109]
XV.—Friends and Foes[118]
XVI.—Little Billy[128]
XVII.—Camelias[139]
XVIII.—Concussion[149]
XIX.—Percussion[161]
XX.—Discussion[172]
XXI.—Blackmarsh[184]
XXII.—Fireship and Galleon[197]
XXIII.—A Magic Letter[211]
XXIV.—A Wager[225]
XXV.—A Sermon in Stone[241]
XXVI.—The Old Mill[252]
XXVII.—Panic[263]
XXVIII.—Vagabonds[277]
XXIX.—Two Puzzles[291]
XXX.—Frankly Speaking[300]
XXXI.—A Great Prize[311]
XXXII.—Pleadings[321]
XXXIII.—The Schoolmaster Abroad[331]
XXXIV.—Loyalty[341]
XXXV.—A Wrestling Bout[352]
XXXVI.—A Fighting Bout[363]
XXXVII.—Gentle as a Lamb[374]
XXXVIII.—An Inland Run[384]
XXXIX—Needful Returns[394]
XL—Home and Foreign[406]
XLI—The Pride of Life[416]
XLII—His Last Bivouac[426]
XLIII—Two Fine Lessons[435]
XLIV—And One still Finer[445]

PERLYCROSS.

CHAPTER I. THE LAP OF PEACE.

In the year 1835, the Rev. Philip Penniloe was Curate-in-charge of Perlycross, a village in a valley of the Blackdown Range. It was true that the Rector, the Rev. John Chevithorne, M.A., came twice every year to attend to his tithes; but otherwise he never thought of interfering, and would rather keep his distance from spiritual things. Mr. Penniloe had been his College-tutor, and still was his guide upon any points of duty less cardinal than discipline of dogs and horses.