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Correspondence.

[The Editor is not responsible for the opinions of the Correspondents.]

To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion.

Queries.

66 "LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT." SIR,-Will you allow me to ask through your columns, has hymn 266 in the revised edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, (Lux benigna,) ever had appended to it another verse, making the fourth? Is this hymn by Father Newman? and if so, is a fourth verse, added in editions of some hymn books, his also? I shall be grateful for any information.-Yours, &c., JOHN CARLYLE FIELD.

[The question of our correspondent respecting the hymn "Lead, kindly Light," was fully discussed in our correspondence columns for the months of June and July, 1875, when it was conclusively proved that Cardinal Newman is not the author of the fourth verse.ED. C. C.]

BOOKS ON CHURCH HISTORY.

SIR,-I shall be much obliged if any of your readers will recommend some books to give to a girl, (of 24,) whose religious teaching has been much neglected, and who knows scarcely anything of Church history.-Yours, &c., A. Z.

STORY BOOKS FOR GIRLS.

SIR,-Will any reader of the Churchman's Companion kindly send me a few story books-having a large class of girls and only a limited number of books to circulate among so many? it does not signify if they are well worn. Maga

zines will be acceptable. I will gladly pay the carriage.-Address, Miss E. WILLIAMS, 66, Lemon Street, Truro, Cornwall.

EXCHANGE OF MAGAZINES.

SIR,-Will any one exchange the Churchman's Companion for the years 1875 and 1876 for the Monthly Packet of 1875, bound, but not in own covers? Address, Mrs. OSLER, Croxton Kerrial, Grantham.

ILLUSTRATED PAPERS.

Miss PARROTT begs to acknowledge, with many thanks, packets of Christmas Cards for Hospital Scrap Book from "Agnes," Worthing post mark, and several others nameless, and post marks illegible.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

For "Farringia, Rio Pongos Mission." S. Gibbins, £10. 10s.; A Subscriber, £1. 18.

BISHOP WILBERFORCE'S CONFIRMATION MEMORIAL WINDOW, NOW ERECTED IN S. MARY'S, SOUTHAMPTON.

Miss L. PHILLIMORE (5, Arlington Street, S. James's, S.W.) acknowledges with her best thanks for the above: London, W., ls.; Miss E. Powys, £5.; E. F. D., 2s. 6d. ; C. B., 1s.; E. Wilberforce L., 5s. ; S. P. F., 5s. ; S. G. F., 5s.; S. E. G. F., 2s. 6d. ; M. H. K., 2s. 6d. £396 received, £68 still needed. Further offerings gladly received as

above.

Notices to Correspondents.

Accepted: "The Ascension of our LORD;" "Patience."

Declined with thanks : "Miserrimus." [The verses are good, but the

subject is not suited to our pages.]

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CHRISTINA arrived in Curzon Street the next morning punctually at the hour appointed. She looked forward with some trepidation to the meeting with Elizabeth, hoping that she should not have to mention Kenneth in any way, for she knew that she could not command her looks. However, Madame was in the room all the time of the practising, and there was little talk. Elizabeth was as affectionate as ever. At last, after more than an hour had elapsed, she said, "Now, Christie, I'm not going to play any more, but you must stay a little longer, please, unless you have a headache-you look tired, or triste, or both."

"O, I'm not tired, but if you are, we will leave off."

"I am going to ask you, as a great favour, to play something to me. I have been trying to remember it, and I can't; the last part of Haydn's Creed."

"I will try," said Christina, "if you wish it, but I am not quite sure that I remember it at all."

She took Bessy's place, and set to work, finding her memory better than she had expected. With the remembrance of the strains there came floating through her mind a picture of the group round the piano in Claremont Street,-Kenneth coming in and adding his voice to the chorus, and afterwards standing by the window talking to Elizabeth. “And that will never, never be again!" Her eyes filled with tears,

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and when she had finished, she rose hurriedly, saying, "I must go now. Good-bye."

66

'Not directly? O no, I want a few words with you first. A moment, please, dear Christie. Is anything the matter? I am sure there is-O tell me!" She twined her arms round her friend, "I'm not going to let you run away yet!"

peacefully in her easy chair, Elizabeth's affection proved

Madame de Bosch sat still, slumbering for the music had had its usual effect. too strong for Christina's resolution, and she whispered, "I cannot help it, I am so unhappy. O, Bessy, Kenneth is going away to Africa."

"No! Impossible! You don't really mean it ?"

"Yes, it is true;" and she gave Elizabeth an outline of the plan. Elizabeth sat motionless, as if thunderstruck.

pause.

There was a long

"When was it settled ?" she asked, in a low voice. "Last week. He only told me on Sunday."

"But how sudden! Is it Mr. Parker's doing ?"

"I suppose so. They can help each other out there.”

"A new crusade !—and yet―O, Christie, what will you do without him ?"

"I don't know."

"Nor I," said Elizabeth, as if the words were wrung from her with pain.

There was another long silence. Madame de Bosch awoke, and Christina rose to go. Bessy followed her into the passage, but only

for a last embrace.

No more was said.

The next practising was in Claremont Street, and they were alone together the greater part of the time. The lesson over, Elizabeth said, come out' after all, this season?

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Christie, did I tell you that I am to

They have settled it so, though it seems curious just at the end of the The last Drawing-room is next Tuesday, and I am going to it. Will you come and see me dressed ?"

season.

"You don't look as if you liked the prospect.-Thanks, I'll come if I can spare the time.”

"I don't feel as if I had any heart for gaieties. Besides, it is Lord Prestmore's wish that I should be introduced," she added, looking down. "He has promised to wait until I have seen more of the world; and so I am to begin at once."

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"But it will not make much difference if you don't care about him." "I can't! They all think it is because I am such a child-and the real reason is, that I know myself better than any of them, and I am a child no longer. My heart is not my own to give, however, there is no use in these regrets. Keep my secret, Christie dearest. Sometimes I wonder what he thinks of me-if he ever does, that is." Christina wisely and faithfully held her peace, but Elizabeth went on, "I can't help talking to you, Christie dear, for it is a sort of relief, and there is no one else. Think me as foolish as you like, for saying what is in my heart, but don't hate me! I can't keep secrets, but I am sure mine are safe with you."

"I'll try and deserve your good opinion," said Christina, blushing with painful consciousness. It was very hard to keep faith with both her friend and her brother.

"Mind, you are both coming to us this evening," said Elizabeth, as she went away. "By George's particular request !"

Christina gave the message to Kenneth, not daring to look at him meanwhile.

"I cannot. I have some work to do. You can go if you like. Charlie shall take you, and I'll fetch you; but I shall not come in." "Then I'd rather not go," said Christina, hastily. "I'll send a note at once."

Elizabeth was much disappointed when the Grahames did not appear. Moreover, she began to be puzzled by Christina's reserve, and perhaps a consciousness of having said too much of her own feelings made her shy. She found it an effort to mention Kenneth's name, and began to blame herself. "I am sure she despises my weakness; I wish I had not gone so far-yet what shall I do? it is true, and I can't help it! Ought I to conquer this feeling? What shall I do ?" At last she resolved that nothing should come between her and her friend, if she could help it; and begged for an explanation when next they met.

"There is a coldness springing up in our friendship, Christie. If you care less for me than you did, pray tell me the reason. You are as dear to me as ever, but I feel that there is a reserve on your partyou despise me ?"

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"O, Bessy dearest, how can I? If you only knew I love you better than any one except—”

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'Then I know what it is. He does not care to go on being friends

with us for some reason. Why don't you come to our Thursday evenings! This coldness, this avoidance, gives me pain! I did want to ask you about it, but I could see that you tried to keep away from the subject. Christie, is there anything in it, or not? You cannot have betrayed me!"

Here was a dilemma. Christina felt she must say something; and yet to tell the whole truth seemed impossible! To confess that she had betrayed Elizabeth's confidence would not only annihilate their friendship, but would cause her friend the greatest misery-unlessmust she then reveal her brother's secret? He had not given her his confidence, but she had guessed it. After all, was it not due to Elizabeth that she should know something of Kenneth's real feeling towards her?

"Bessy," she said, falteringly, "Kenneth has not in words said that-that-it is dangerous for him to see more of you; but he has such high ideas of honour that he could never be false to the trust reposed in him by your relations, and I think he keeps away, not because he cares too little about your friendship, but too much. I do not know whether I have made a mistake in telling you what I suspect to be the reason, but I am sure you will honour him for being true to trust."

Christina spoke with an effort; the thought of her own conduct oppressed her conscience, yet she could not confess her own treachery; rightly or wrongly, she decided to let that remain a secret,

To Elizabeth the revelation had a strangely solemn effect. She felt as if she were raised up to visions of greater heights of feeling than she had known before, and intuitively she recognised the influence of Kenneth's lofty principle; but such things were too deep, too precious, to dwell upon in words.

"Thank you, Christie," she said at last, very low. Henceforth the subject was sacred; never mentioned openly, scarcely ever implied, and Christina's relief was great. They met less often, moreover, for Elizabeth had not much time for music; besides, she was now quite competent to take care of her own practising.

It was the last week of the season. Lady Margaret had asked several guests to the final Thursday evening assembly, and she was enumerating them one morning at breakfast, lamenting that nearly everybody had left town, when Sir George remarked, "We have not had the Grahames here for weeks. I don't want to lose sight of that

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