CHAPTER XXX 446
grange, the row of scathed firs behind, and the patch of moorish soil, with the yew-trees and holly-bushes in front. I am obscure: Rivers is an old name; but of the three sole descendants of the race, two earn the dependant ' s crust among strangers, and the third considers himself an alien from his native country-- not only for life, but in death. Yes, and deems, and is bound to deem, himself honoured by the lot, and aspires but after the day when the cross of separation from fleshly ties shall be laid on his shoulders, and when the Head of that church-militant of whose humblest members he is one, shall give the word, ' Rise, follow Me!'"
St. John said these words as he pronounced his sermons, with a quiet, deep voice; with an unflushed cheek, and a coruscating radiance of glance. He resumed-
" And since I am myself poor and obscure, I can offer you but a service of poverty and obscurity. YOU may even think it degrading-- for I see now your habits have been what the world calls refined: your tastes lean to the ideal, and your society has at least been amongst the educated; but I consider that no service degrades which can better our race. I hold that the more arid and unreclaimed the soil where the Christian labourer ' s task of tillage is appointed him-- the scantier the meed his toil brings-- the higher the honour. His, under such circumstances, is the destiny of the pioneer; and the first pioneers of the Gospel were the Apostles-- their captain was Jesus, the Redeemer, Himself."
" Well?" I said, as he again paused-- " proceed."
He looked at me before he proceeded: indeed, he seemed leisurely to read my face, as if its features and lines were characters on a page. The conclusions drawn from this scrutiny he partially expressed in his succeeding observations.
" I believe you will accept the post I offer you," said he, " and hold it for a while: not permanently, though: any more than I could permanently keep the narrow and narrowing-- the tranquil, hidden office of English country incumbent; for in your nature is an alloy as detrimental to repose as that in