They did not offer to take him back again, when, five years later, he became a true believer in the faith of Mary Joanna Southcott and the coming of the young Shiloh.

This lady, whose portrait, with that of her spiritual amanuensis, hung in Mrs.Yorke's sitting-room, had been her only rival in the affections of her husband.

She had not been jealous of her upon that account, feeling pretty certain, perhaps, that the "affinity" between them was Platonic; but she had rather grudged the money with which he had so lavishly relieved the "perplexities" of "the handmaid." The amanuensis used to issue I O U's at Joanna's dictation, to be paid with enormous interest Hereafter, and Leonard Yorke was always ready to discount her paper.

There was no one that subscribed more munificently than he did toward the famous "cradle," or looked more devoutly for its expected tenant.

Even when that long-looked-for 19th of October had come and gone without sign, and two months later his poor deluded idol passed away into that future with which she had been so rashly familiar, he was faithful to her yet, and kept the "seal" which she had given him--his passport to the realms of bliss--as his dearest treasure.