The combating of infidelity, therefore, offered little scope for enterprising young clergymen, nor had the Church awakened to the activity which she

has since displayed among the poor in our large towns. These were then left almost without an effort at resistance or co-operation to the labours of those who had succeeded Wesley. Missionary work indeed in heathen countries was being carried on with some energy, but Theobald did not feel any cal to be a missionary. Christina suggested this to him

more than once, and assured him of the unspeakable happiness it would be to her to be the wife of a missionary, and to share his dangers; she and Theobald might even be martyred; of course they would be martyred

simultaneously, and martyrdom many years hence as regarded from the arbour in the Rectory garden was not painful, it would ensure them a glorious future in the next world, and at any rate posthumous renown in this--even if they were not miraculously restored to life again--and such things had happened ere now in the case of martyrs. Theobald, however,

had not been kindled by Christina's enthusiasm, so she fel back upon the Church of Rome--an enemy more dangerous, if possible, than paganism

itself. A combat with Romanism might even yet win for her and Theobald the crown of martyrdom. True, the Church of Rome was tolerably quiet just then, but it was the calm before the storm, of this she was assured, with a conviction deeper than she could have attained by any argument

founded upon mere reason."We, dearest Theobald," she exclaimed, "wil be ever faithful. We wil stand firm and support one another even in the hour of death itself. God in his mercy may spare us from being burnt alive. He may or may not do

so. Oh Lord" (and she turned her eyes prayerful y to Heaven), "spare my Theobald, or grant that he may be beheaded.""My dearest," said Theobald gravely, "do not let us agitate ourselves

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unduly. If the hour of trial comes we shal be best prepared to meet it by having led a quiet unobtrusive life of self-denial and devotion to

God's glory. Such a life let us pray God that it may please Him to enable us to pray that we may lead.""Dearest Theobald," exclaimed Christina, drying the tears that had gathered in her eyes, "you are always, always right. Let us be self-denying, pure, upright, truthful in word and deed." She clasped her hands and looked up to Heaven as she spoke."Dearest," rejoined her lover, "we have ever hitherto endeavoured to be

al of these things; we have not been worldly people; let us watch and pray that we may so continue to the end."The moon had risen and the arbour was getting damp, so they adjourned

further aspirations for a more convenient season. At other times Christina pictured herself and Theobald as braving the scorn of almost every human being in the achievement of some mighty task which should redound to the honour of her Redeemer. She could face anything for this. But always towards the end of her vision there came a little coronation scene high up in the golden regions of the Heavens, and a diadem was set upon her head by the Son of Man Himself, amid a host of angels and

archangels who looked on with envy and admiration--and here even Theobald himself was out of it. If there could be such a thing as the Mammon of

Righteousness Christina would have assuredly made friends with it. Her papa and mamma were very estimable people and would in the course of time receive Heavenly Mansions in which they would be exceedingly comfortable; so doubtless would her sisters; so perhaps, even might her brothers; but for herself she felt that a higher destiny was preparing, which it was

her duty never to lose sight of. The first step towards it would be her marriage with Theobald. In spite, however, of these flights of religious romanticism, Christina was a good-tempered kindly-natured girl enough,

who, if she had married a sensible layman--we wil say a

hotel-keeper--would have developed into a good landlady and been deservedly popular with her guests.Such was Theobald's engaged life. Many a little present passed between the pair, and many a smal surprise did they prepare pleasantly for one another. They never quarrel ed, and neither of them ever flirted with anyone else. Mrs Al aby and his future sisters-in-law idolised Theobald in spite of its being impossible to get another deacon to come and be

played for as long as Theobald was able to help Mr Al aby, which now of course he did free gratis and for nothing; two of the sisters, however, did manage to find husbands before Christina was actual y married, and on each occasion Theobald played the part of decoy elephant. In the end

only two out of the seven daughters remained single.After three or four years, old Mr Pontifex became accustomed to his son's

engagement and looked upon it as among the things which had now a prescriptive right to toleration. In the spring of 1831, more than five years after Theobald had first walked over to Crampsford, one of the best livings in the gift of the Col ege unexpectedly fel vacant, and was for various reasons declined by the two fel ows senior to Theobald, who might each have been expected to take it. The living was then offered to and

of course accepted by Theobald, being in value not less than 500 pounds a year with a suitable house and garden. Old Mr Pontifex then came down

more handsomely than was expected and settled 10,000 pounds on his son and daughter-in-law for life with remainder to such of their issue as Page 32

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they might appoint. In the month of July, 1831 Theobald and Christina became man and wife.CHAPTER XI IA due number of old shoes had been thrown at the carriage in which the happy pair departed from the Rectory, and it had turned the corner at the bottom of the vil age. It could then be seen for two or three hundred yards creeping past a fir coppice, and after this was lost to view."John," said Mr Al aby to his man-servant,

"shut the gate;" and he went

indoors with a sigh of relief which seemed to say: "I have done it, and I am alive." This was the reaction after a burst of enthusiastic merriment during which the old gentleman had run twenty yards after the carriage to fling a slipper at it--which he had duly flung.But what were the feelings of Theobald and Christina when the vil age was passed and they were rol ing quietly by the fir plantation? It is at this point that even the stoutest heart must fail, unless it beat in the breast of one who is over head and ears in love.