in Weston's greeting to her
I had my first lesson in what the world calls manner. How clumsy
seemed my own excuses for coming at all, compared to his pleasure at
finding her at home! He had been looking forward all afternoon to
seeing her again. As he shook hands with Luther, he was so hearty that
the old man took his guest by the shoulders and declared fervidly that
he was rejoiced that he had come. Weston did not glare at Perry
Thomas, nor at me either. We but added to his pleasure. Truly his cup
of joy was overflowing! And the famine in India--indeed--indeed! The
subject was one which interested him deeply, and if Mr. Warden cared
for it, he would send him several books on the far East which he had in
his library at home. He hoped that in return he might some time have
the pleasure of reading carefully, cover to cover, the fat volume that
Luther had spread across his knees. Meantime, he would insist on not
interrupting. But Mary must be comfortably seated before he could take
the place on the settee that Luther had arranged for him, and he must
hear all over again the story of the book, of Brother Matthias Pennel
and Sister Flora Martin. How I envied him! What must Perry and I seem
beside this lanky man with his kindly, easy ways! Perry, of course,
did not see it. He was smiling, for Weston was telling him that he had
stood at the Thomas gate for a half hour the very evening before,
listening to the strains of a violin. He hoped to hear that melody
again, when Mr. Warden had finished the story of the brave missionary
of Ballerraderad.

The Dunker preacher was beaming. He forgot the great doctrine of
humility, and declared that "Mister" Weston should have the volume that
very night. There was nothing better to give a clear view of the
character of the work than Brother Matthias Pennel's account of the
heroism of Sister Flora. So we composed ourselves again to hear of the
battle to the death between the noble missionary woman and the mighty
Bengal.

"Nearer and nearer came the footsteps," read Luther, pausing at each
word to make sure of it. "Furder and furder out over the top of the
mission-house leaned Sister Flora, and as she leaned she thought how
much depended on her that night; for she must remember that there were
sleeping within the walls of the mission-house forty-seven children,
thirty of which were females under the age of eleven years, and
seventeen males, of whom not one-half had reac