eir way westward, on a visit to the
new living, although they would not come into actual residence till
August. They wished to take a house, and visit their relations and old
acquaintances in the town. Pleased as Madeleine was at the prospect of
again seeing her father, she was still far from glad when she heard that
her husband was endeavouring to obtain the living. He did so, however,
in accordance with the express wish of Bishop Sparre, and it was
moreover looked upon as a great piece of advancement. Madeleine had, as
usual, made but little opposition to the project. Pastor Martens had at
length succeeded in educating her into a wife after his own heart.

As she sat there, somewhat crowded in one corner of the carriage, for
her husband had grown rather stout with the lapse of time, she resembled
but little that Madeleine whose home had once been among the
surroundings they were now approaching. She was not ill, but her look
suggested weariness--great weariness. In a large country rectory there
is much work to be done, and three children are pretty well to begin
with.

For the first few years she was almost in a state of despair, and
several times her old violent temper broke out. But her husband had his
own particular method of dealing with her. He never lost his temper, and
the more Madeleine flared up, the more gentle his answers became, as
with a quiet smile he gently placed his hand upon her shoulder.

But when Madeleine began to calm down, he would speak to her in an
admonishing tone, and by degrees he succeeded wonderfully in getting her
into the groove he desired, until at last she got accustomed to the
method.

Pastor Martens's genial and open countenance did not look its best that
day. He had, to tell the truth, been dreadfully sea-sick, and so for
that reason they had left the steamer, preferring to travel the last
part of the journey by land. His sleek face wore a decidedly green hue,
and he made a grimace ever and anon, as he looked out of the carriage
window towards the element they had quitted.

He was, however, a fortunate man, and he was thankful for it. Madeleine
had improved beyond all expectation under his hands. Her violent temper
now seldom appeared, and if it did, he was perfectly certain of his
method of dealing with it. Many a time he remembered with thankfulness
his dear Bishop Sparre, from whom he had learnt so much, and whose
fatherly kindness seemed to follow him wherever he went.