The Worshipful Master.

them shipwrights , built the churches like ships , and the round-headed roof is nothing more than the inverted keel of a ship . Then you have the very word nave , from navis , the Latin for ships , which goes to prove what I say . " Diggory was heard to say , drily , that in other parts of England , the central aisle was called the nave , and there they had the open timber high-pitched roof , or the flat roof , as in Suffolk and in Peterborough Cathedral .

" Precisely ; I did not say nave as a word had anything to do with it . " Everybody glanced at everybody else , but said nothing . Mrs . Penhaligon , who had been conversing in an undertone to her neighbour all the time , in spite of the severe looks of her husband , whose frowns apparently had no terrors for her , was here overheard saying , sententiously , " All men are toads . " " The ancient Phoenicianswhoas your lordshiis no doubt aware" said

, , p , the Rector , after commanding the attention of tho rest of the guests , by repeating the words in a loud tone—there was an undercurrent of merriment somewhere the pedagogue wished to suppress : " the ancient Phoenicians traded for tin to Cornwall , some say about the time of Solomon . They built their temples so as to represent a shi p inverted , and the most ancient churches of Cornwall having no chancel archand indeedno se 23 arate chancel at allwere

, , , merely a reproduction of the old idea . I don't know whether you are aware of a curious fact with regard to the orientation of churches , that they are not all alike . " " No , I am afraid I don ' t know much about it , " said Lord Esme . " Well , you know , it was this way . Before the discovery of the mariner ' s compass , the true east was supposed to be where the snn rose . The builder

used to go out before sunrise with his men when a church or cathedral was to be erected , and the foundation stone was laid , on the particular saint ' s day to whom the church was to be dedicated . A rod was placed in the ground at the spot , and the shadow it cast as the sun rose , indicated the exact orientation , and was considered the true east and west . It followed , therefore , that , as the sun rises either to the north or south of east , according to the time of year , so the orientation would differ very materiall y if a church were dedicated to , say St . John the Baptist or St . Andrew . "

"Very interesting , " said Miss Pentreath ; " I knew it before , though . " "Ah ! indeed , " said the rector , who always spoke of everything as if he were the one teacher , and all the rest were ignorant scholars . " Ah ! indeed . No doubt I told you before , the last time we met . " " Oh ! dear no , nothing of the kind , " said the young lady . " I have known it all my life . I haven ' t really , " she said , sotto voce to her neighbour , "but I

have no notion of the Rector monopolising the conversation , and treating us all like schoolboys , who are to be lectured and bullied . " The Rector was silent for a few minutes after this , and the talk became general . " Roberts , " said his lordship to his steward , who was waiting , " fill Dr . Penhaligon ' s glass .

"Yes , my lord . " "And order the boat ; some of us will go on shore . " There was now a general move on deck to see the race between the crews of H . M . training brigs Sea Flower , Swallow , and Rattlesnake , and much excitement , and some small bets in gloves with the ladies were duly booked . Diggory and Miss Penhaligon seemed to get on very well together . He

was a clever , well read man , but an awful punster , and sometimes vastly amusing . She liked him , and as she was well educated and had the run of her father ' s extensive library , they had much in common . "I like that Miss Pentreath verv much . " " What , Orelyea ? " " Yes ; oh ! really , ah ! What a queer name . "