The horses thrust their noses down into it, blowing and sputtering with sheer delight in the coolness.

John made a cup of a big beech leaf, and filled it for his wife.

As he handed it to her, they heard steps, and in a moment more Mr.Grier came around the curve of the road.

His horse, too, was thirsty, and he let the reins fall on its neck while he greeted them both with formal and ministerial dignity, saying he "wished they might have tarried until he came home, and perhaps he could have persuaded them to stay the night." The horses pounded and splashed in the pools about their feet, and were impatient to be off, but Mr.Grier delayed.

He spoke of church matters, and General Assembly, and their respective congregations; and then, with a little hesitation, he said:-- "I had almost hoped, Mrs.Ward, that you would have been in Brother Ward's church to-day, even though Mrs.Grier had much pleasure in seeing you under our roof.