properly and well, when it served his turn to
do so; and Lucilla thought him a very nice person, and to be trusted,
for he was older than Bernard, by several years, and was often trusted
to walk with the boys. She could not say that she could give leave, but
she promised to tell her father where Bernard was gone, and with whom.
Everything was therefore settled before the spoiled boy came home late
in the evening. Mr. Low agreed with Mr. Evans that he should take care
of his church; and as Mr. Evans was going to have his house painted and
a new schoolroom built, it was also settled that he should come and
reside at the rectory until Mr. Low returned. Miss Evans was immensely
pleased at the thought of this. Bernard was to remain under Mr. Evans's
care; Mr. Low's servants were all to be put on board wages and sent
home, excepting the gardener. Even nurse was to go to her son, for Mr.
Low said that nurse was the one who spoiled Bernard most. The boys were
to have a large laundry, which was in the yard, for their schoolroom,
and the drying yard for their play-ground; and Mr. Evans and his family
were to come in the day Mr. Low left.

"Mr. Low had also to ask leave for being absent from his living, and
Mrs. Low had packing to do; so that there was a vast deal to get
through, for it was necessary for them to be in London, where Captain
Lewis was, in a very few days.

"As Lucilla, who had not yet heard of all this great bustle, walked
quietly home, her heart was very sad on account of her brother. She
came back by the grotto, and took up her work-basket, putting away the
hermit and the tools and bits of wood in a corner of the little cave
out of sight; and taking her basket in her hand, she walked towards
home, thinking to return to her little hermitage the next day at
latest.

"Poor Lucilla could not help shedding a few tears as she passed slowly
along the shrubbery, to think how all her little plans had ended in
nothing. She did not just then remember that verse, 'Cast thy bread
upon the waters, and after many days thou shalt find it.'"

[Illustration: "_He took up a slip of wood._"--Page 344.]

Third Part of the History of Little Bernard Low

[Illustration: There was no end of the indulgences given in private to
the boy]

_THIRD PART OF HENRY'S STORY_

"As this history has been very long, and there is more to write about
it, we will not say much of what happened the next seven days; for both
houses, that is