silver mirrors, flecked by shifting shadows, and, to the experienced eye, full of rich promise of fish.

For once, Mr. Peter Applethwaite was oblivious to all this. But two things held possession of his thoughts-his fear that something had gone wrong with the rector, and his resolve to give Powder Blue a thrashing.

CHAPTER XV.

THE RECTOR IS PUZZLED.

"WHAT, not see Miss Gertrude! Why, my dear Mrs. Bleek, it is by her own desire I am here. See her I must, and will!

And the Reverend Mr. Francis Mildmay emphasised this expression of his determination very strongly.

He was standing in Mrs. Bleek's, the house-keeper's room, wiping the drops from his broad, brave forehead; for he had come across the park from the river, and had been walking fast.

"Deary, deary, deary me, Pa'son Mildmay!"—and the ancient woman wrung her hands. "It's all confusion and flustration. Nothing peaceable and quiet, as when I was a gal! Then everything went reg'lar, like the ticking of a clock; while now

"In Sir Hugh's state, I suppose, Mrs. Bleek, you are mistress here?" said Pa'son Frank impatiently.

Ever

"I mistress ! There you go again. Deary, deary me! I don't know whether the Abbey is resting on its own foundations, or standing on its chimney-pots. since those people from Lunnon have been here, I've been sitting on earthquakes, that I have! If the ground was to open beneath my feet, it wouldn't surprise me a bit! There's death in the air, Parson Frank. There's death in the air!

"What the dev-I mean, what on earth do you mean, woman?" ejaculated the easy

goer, for once startled out of his equanimity.

"I mean this,"-and Mrs. Bleek sunk her voice into a whisper,-" that the bark of the fox was heard all night in the copse; that them two owls in the clock tower never stopped hooting; and the croak of the raven was heard under my own window; all certain signs, and sure that a Wentworth is about to die!"

"Nonsense!" said the rector.

"The

death of a dozen Wentworths couldn't concern the owls, nor ravens, much, though possibly the fox might have a larger interest in the matter. How is Miss Gertrude?"

"Clean off her head, I'm 'fear'd. She talks and raves about all sorts of things. I think her mind is gone sometimes—that I do."

"The more reason that I should see her, and, above all, the doctor."

"The doctor!" said a rich, mellow voice, almost at the rector's elbow. "The doctor's here, only too delighted if he can be of any service."

Pa'son Frank, who had opened the door of Mrs. Bleek's sanctum, in preparation for his quitting the room, started, and let go of his hold on the lock.

In the smiling gentleman who stood in the doorway he recognised-having more than once seen him pass the rectory-Doctor Malyon.

Somewhat confused, the rector reddened. He returned the doctor's bow. The latter advanced with an air of easy frankness— a "gentlemanly air," but little in keeping with bottles of rum and the village inn.

"I must apologise for a seeming rudeness, but I was myself put about to turn the outside handle of the door when it opened.