personal attraction prevents this, he strikes to the Church. The faith of a little child, a blow heavier than he himself desires. It combined with womanly tact, has ever been, is too much to expect, nor has the world an as all history shows, a divinely favored ininstance of, woman really standing in any strument of conversion. Through her the stout profession of religion whatever against missionary of old and rude times reached men the world. Priests and women may do or impervious to his direct influence; through seem to do so for a time; but the woman her something of the same work is done in without the priest, however pretty the posi- our day. Every leader and ruler in the tion in novels of a woman believing because Church does well to use her service, as esshe is a 66 trembling, believing creature," pecially woman's service with a part of its has not yet been seen. Nobody, in our day, own to perform. Where the trust is misused really wants a school of female sceptics and abused, the actor does not see this femnot, we verily believe, the most liberal of inine nature through its merits, but its dethe Essayists; but if they really got hold fects. He says to himself,-unconsciously, of the feminine mind, the effects would be perhaps,—not" women are better than men,' serious, and even terrible, in a more practi- but "women are more manageable, more cal line than men now contemplate. easily led, more the prey of their wishes and emotions, more ready tools." Instead of seeking to elevate and strengthen that impressible nature, he plays upon it and humors it. In such a revelation as we must call that of Santiago, where everything is in extreme, it is no want of charity to assume that the priests appealed knowingly to the puerilities and weaknesses of women in the whole conduct of that festival that ended so fatally; in the gross expedients by which they sought to excite their faith and reliance

On the question how far women are more religious than men, we would observe that, so far as religion has a secular side, there is no doubt that it constitutes one of woman's greatest secular interests. And when we talk of persons' interest in, and devotion to, the cause of religion, it must always be remembered that this devotion may be concentrated on the secular element. The rules of society, as they now exist, if not the nature of things, exclude women from the avowedly secular business of life, making an exception on an object which so set forth that object in favor of religious work and service. Religion is, then, as it was designed to be, one of the principal means by which they take part in the work of the world; it is their sphere; and this, of course, enhances what is called woman's innate religiousness, till we cannot judge how far it is innate, or how far policy unconsciously infuses its alloy into the pure metal. If the advocates of women's rights got their way, and women undertook men's businesses and professions, they would lose much of this reputation, though not a word were written or spoken to influence their religious belief and practice. They would belong to the world in a different sense from what they had done before; strong interests, disconnected with spiritual things, mental and physical organization, and supas none of their present domestic interests are,-would take possession of them, and would approach their habit of mind to some likeness, in this respect, to that of men, though with a still wider divergence from

the old feminine standard than men show. Women have, unquestionably, some excellencies of mind and nature peculiar to themselves which have been of inestimable service

which is always found so especially congenial to an excitable and frivolous female population; as relaxing the moral severities of religion, and throwing into it an infusion of earthly romance. To us it seems as though they had sought to make and keep them religious by a deliberate, sinful, deadening and obscuring of their higher faculties, if not by be judged by English rules; it is so possible grosser acts; but a priest of Chili must not to be right in declaiming against systems, and yet unjust toward the people who carry them out, perhaps, in perfect good faith. In general terms, however, it is certain, that` whenever, for the construction of a useful engine, women are urged to extremes of which address themselves to their peculiar trust, submission, or enthusiasm, by means

press, by consequence, their reasoning powers and independence of thought, some mischief to pure religion will be the result; in some cases it has been the gravest the Church can experience; and wherever what ought to be the joint task of men and women is, on account of their superior willingness and docility, thrown upon women alone, some extravagance, weakening to the Church's state and efficiency, will ensue.

PART VIII.-CHAPTER XXIX.

DEPARTURES.

out that he was not ill, he'd not take the anxiety in good part."

"How he has contrived to play the tyrant

"To be sure, darling, naturally," broke in Mrs. Maxwell, who always misunderstood everybody. "Of course, we are only too happy to indulge him in a whim or fancy; and if the doctor thinks turtle would suit him,-turtle is so light; I took it for several weeks for luncheon,-we can have it at once. Will you touch the bell, Mark, and I'll tell Raikes to telegraph? Who is it he gets it from?”

ALL was confusion and dismay at Tilney. Bella Lyle's cold turned out to be scarlatina, to you all, I can't imagine," said Alice; and Mark and Alice brought back tidings" but I can see that every whim and caprice that old Commodore Graham had been seized he practises is studied as courtiers study the with a fit, and was seriously, if not danger-moods of their masters." ously, ill. Of course, the company scattered like an exploded shell. The Graham girls hastened back to their father, while the other guests sought safety in flight, the great struggle now being who should soonest secure posthorses to get away. Like many old people rich in this world's comforts, Mrs. Maxwell had an especial aversion to illness in any shape. It was a topic she never spoke on; and, if she could, would never have mentioned before her. Her intimates understood this thoroughly, and many were the expressions employed to imply that Mr. Such-a-one had a fever, or Mrs: So-and-so was given over by her doctors. As to the fatal result itself, it was always veiled in a sort of decent mystery, as though it would not be perfectly polite to inquire whither the missing friend had retired to.

"Dr. Reede says it is a very mild case of the malady, and that Bella will be up in a day or two, aunt," said Alice.

"Of course she will," replied the old lady, pettishly. "It's just a cold and sore throat; they hadn't that fine name for it long ago, and people got well all the sooner. Is he gone?

“No; he's talking with Mark in the library; he'll be telling him, I think, about the commodore."

"Well, don't ask him to stop to dinner; we have sorrow enough without seeing a doctor."

Mark pulled the bell, but took no notice of her question. I wish," muttered he below his breath, "we had never come here. There's Bella now laid up, and here's Maitland. I'm certain he's going away; for I overheard Fenton ask about the distance to Dundalk.”

"I suppose we might survive even that misfortune," said she, haughtily.

"And one thing I'll swear to," said Mark, walking the room with impatience,-“it's the last Ireland will see of him."

"Poor Ireland! the failure in the potatocrop was bad enough; but this is more than can be endured.”

"That's all very fine, Alice; but I'm much mistaken if you are as indifferent as you pretend!

"Mark! what do you mean?" said she, angrily.

"Here's Raikes now, and will some one tell him what it is we want?" said Mrs. Maxwell; but the others were far too deeply engaged in their own whispered controversy now to mind her.

Captain Lyle will you tell by and by, Raikes," said she, gathering up the mass of loose impedimenta with which she usually moved from one room to the other, and by which, as they fell at every step, her course could always be tracked. "He'll tell you,' added she, moving away. "I think it was caviar, and you are to telegraph for it to Swan & Edgar's; but my head is confused to-day; I'll just go and lie down.”

As Mrs. Maxwell left by one door, Alice passed out by another; while Mark, whose

1

Nearly all, sir. Except your family and Mr. Maitland, there's nobody left but Major Clough; and he's going, I believe, with Dr. Reede." "You've heard nothing of Mr. Maitland"seventeen thousand and four D x X, and going; have you ?"

"Of course you are right," said Maitland, | be undisturbed. She selected a most unfrecrumpling up the telegram and the other quented path, bordered on one side by the papers; "and now for the commodore. You high laurel-hedge, and on the other by a are not apprehensive of anything serious, I little rivulet, beyond which lay some rich hope?' meadows, backed in the distance by a thick plantation.

"It's an anxious case, sir,- ―a very anxious case; he's eighty-four."

"Eighty-four!" repeated Maitland, to whom the words conveyed a considerable significance.

"Eighty-four!" repeated the other once more. "No one would suspect it. Why, Sally Graham is the same age as my wife; they were at school together."

Too polite to push a question which involved a double-shotted answer, Maitland merely said, "Indeed!" and after a slight pause, added, "You said, I think, that the road to Dundalk led past Commodore Graham's cottage?'

66

66

By the very gate."

May I offer you a seat with me? I am going that way. I have received news which calls me suddenly to England."

"I thank you much; but I have some visits yet to make before I return to Port Graham. I promised to stop the night there."

She had not gone far when she heard a short, quick footstep behind her, and in a few minutes Maitland was at her side." You forgot to liberate me," said he, "so I had to break my arrest."

"Signor mio, you must forgive me-we have had such a morning of confusion and trouble first Bella ill-not seriously but confined to bed; and then this poor old commodore-the doctor has told you all about it; and, last of all, Mark storming about the house, and angry with every one for having caught cold or a fever, and so disgusted (the great) Mr. Maitland that he is actually hurrying away with a vow to Heaven never more to put foot in Ireland.”

"Be a little serious, and tell me of your mission this morning," said he, gravely.

"Three words will do it. We reached Port Graham just as the doctor arrived there. The commodore, it seemed, got home Having charged the doctor to convey to all safe by about four o'clock in the mornthe commodore's daughters his sincere regret ing, and instead of going to bed, ordered a for their father's illness, and his no less sin-fire in his dressing-room, and a bottle of cere hope of a speedy recovery, Maitland en- mulled port; with which aids to comfort he deavored, in recognition of a preliminary sat down to write. It would not appear, question or two about himself, to press the acceptance of a fee; but the doctor, armed with that self-respect and tact his profession so eminently upholds, refused to accept it, and took his leave, perhaps well requited in having seen and spoken with the great Mr. Norman Maitland of whom half the country round were daily talking.

“Mr. Maitland is not ill, I hope?" said Alice, as she met the doctor on his way through the garden.

however, that he had got far in his correspondence; for at six, when his man entered, he found but two lines, and his master, as he thought, fast asleep, but which proved to be a fit of some kind; for he was perfectly insonsible. He rallied, however, and recognized his servant, and asked for the girls. And now Dr. Reede thinks that the danger has in a great measure passed off, and that all will go well."

"It is most unhappy-most unhappy," muttered Maitland. "I am sincerely sorry for it all."

"Of course you are, though perhaps not really to blame,-at least not blamable in a

"No, Mrs. Trafford;. I have been making a friendly call-no more," said the doctor, rather vain that he could thus designate his visit; and with a few words of advice about her sister, he went his way. Alice, mean-high degree." while, saw that Maitland had observed her from his window, and rightly guessed that he would soon be in search of her.

With that feminine instinct that never deceives in such cases, she determined that whatever was to pass between them should

At

"Not in any degree, Mrs. Trafford.” "That must be a matter of opinion. all events, your secret is safe; for the old man has totally forgotten all that occurred last night between you; and lest any clew to it should remain, I carried away the begin

"He ought not to have refused," said she, there is something at stake far more touching thoughtfully.