Felix had at all times a brilliant assurance of manner which was simply the vehicle of his good spirits and his good will; but at present he had a special design, and as he would have admitted that the design was audacious, so he was conscious of having summoned all the arts of conversation to his aid.

But he was so far from desiring to offend his visitor that he was rapidly asking himself what personal compliment he could pay the young clergyman that would gratify him most.

If he could think of it, he was prepared to pay it down.

"Have you been preaching one of your beautiful sermons to-day ?" he suddenly asked, laying down his palette.

This was not what Felix had been trying to think of, but it was a tolerable stop-gap.
Mr.Brand frowned--as much as a man can frown who has very fair, soft eyebrows, and, beneath them, very gentle, tranquil eyes.