A Stranger in the Pew

Mr. Walton is getting ready to preach. He looks out from the pulpit and sees that Ethelwyn Oldcastle is in her pew, next to a stranger. The stranger is the handsome man Mr. Walton remembers seeing ride by on a white horse on his way to Oldcastle Hall.

Seeing the handsome stranger beside Ethelwyn is upsetting to Mr. Walton. Mr. Walton is by this time in love with Ethelwyn. He is later to learn that the stranger's presence is also upsetting to Ethelwyn, but for now he does not know how she feels about the stranger.

Mr. Walton prays for help with his sermon and preaches very well. He leaves the church trembling however, and that night he becomes sick. He is sick with a low fever for six weeks and unable to preach. A young curate takes his place while he is sick.