s. He went away saddened and
surprised; but as he is neither poor nor hard-worked, I did not consider
that he came within my category. I was beginning to feel a trifle
overworked, and was quite relieved to get away for a rest!"

"I think you have done splendidly, and am sure you have enjoyed it, in
spite of all you may say. It gives one such a lovely, warm, glowey
feeling to help other people! On the rare occasions when I have
succeeded in doing it, I have just longed to be a philanthropist, for I
felt so deliriously happy and pleased with myself. You can't look me in
the face and deny that you have been far happier this last month, and
far less bored and cynical?"

Gervase laughed, and shrugged his shoulders.

"Have it your own way! I deny nothing. I am considerably the loser
both in time and money by the new arrangement, but perhaps that is
wholesome discipline. I don't know that I have experienced much of the
`glow' as yet; which is, I suppose, because I have not your affection
for my fellow-creatures; but I hope it is yet to come, for it sounds an
attractive sensation."

"Don't laugh at me," said Nan severely. "I said glowey, and I mean
glowey! No other word expresses the sensation. You'll understand some
day when you have it yourself, and be sorry that you made fun of me. As
for liking your people, the more you help them, the more interested you
will feel, until in the end you will positively love them as if they
were your own relatives."

Gervase looked dubious.

"If only they would refrain from exhibiting their deformities! I do so
strongly object to looking at disagreeable objects," he sighed
plaintively; then suddenly his face grew grave, and he added in a
different voice, "It will be a long time, I fear, before I can reach
your standard of loving help. So far it is a duty only, and a
distasteful one in to the bargain; but I will persevere, in hope of
better things. There is one person in the parish who has been set in
the right way through your instrumentality. If the other efforts have
failed, this, at least, has been a success, and it was time that some
one took him in hand. An idle, loafing rascal who thought of nothing
but his own comfort, and was the biggest waster in the village. He has
set to work now, and he shall stick to it, or I'll know the reason why!
I'll keep a stern hand on him, Nan, for your sake; for it was you, not
I, who set this ball a-rolling, and I am only the exe