Here come from the sexton's house the pretty light o' heels!" The crowd, gentle and simple, arose, and pushed back all benches, stools, and chairs, so as to enlarge the circumference of the ring, and the six girls who were to run stepped out upon the green.

The youngest son of the house of Jaquelin checked them off in a shrill treble:-- "The blacksmith's Meg--Mall and Jenny from the crossroads ordinary--the Widow Constance's Barbara--red-headed Bess--Parson Darden's Audrey!" A tall, thin, grave gentleman, standing behind Haward, gave an impatient jerk of his body and said something beneath his breath.

Haward looked over his shoulder.

"Ha, Mr.Le Neve! I did not know you were there.

I had the pleasure of hearing you read at Williamsburgh last Sunday afternoon,--though this is your parish, I believe?
What was that last name that the youngster cried?
I failed to catch it." "Audrey, sir," answered the minister of James City parish; "Gideon Darden's Audrey.