n John Hatton. Come what
might to him personally, he was bound by his father's, as well as his
own, promise to be "diligent in business, serving the Lord." That was
the main article of Hatton's contract with the God they served--the
poor, the sick, the little children whom no one loved, he could not
wrong them because he was in trouble with his wife.

Such thoughts came over him like a flood and he instantly rose up to
answer them. In half an hour he was at his desk, and there he lost the
bitterness of his grief in his daily work. _Work_, the panacea for all
sorrow, the oldest gospel preached to men! And because his soul was fit
for the sunshine it followed him, and the men who only met him among the
looms went for the rest of the day with their heads up and a smile on
their faces, so great is the strengthening quality in the mere presence
of a man of God, going about his daily business in the spirit of God.

He found no wife to meet him at the end of the day. Jane had gone to
Harlow House and taken her maid and a trunk with her. He made no remark.
What wise thing could he do but quietly bear an evil that was past cure
and put a good face on it? He did not know whether or not Jane had
observed the same reticence, but he quickly reflected that no good could
come from servants discussing what they knew nothing about.

However, when Jane did not return or send him any message, the
following day his anxiety was so great that he called on Dr. Sewell in
the evening and asked if he could tell him of his wife's condition.

"I was sent for this morning to Harlow House," he answered.

"Is she ill--worse?"

"No. She is fretting. She ought to fret. I gave her some soothing
medicine. I am not sure I did right."

"O Sewell, what shall I do?"

"Go to Madame Hatton. She is a good, wise woman. She is not in love with
her daughter-in-law, but she is as just as women ever are. She will give
you far better counsel than a mere man can offer you."

So late as it was, John rode up to Hatton Hall. It had begun to rain but
he heeded not any physical discomfort. Still he had a pleasant feeling
when he saw the blaze of Hatton hearthfire brightening the dark shadows
of the dripping trees. And he suddenly sent his boyish "hello" before
him, so it was Mrs. Hatton herself who opened the big hall door, who
stood in the glow of the hall lamp to welcome him, and who between
laughing and scolding sent him to his old room to change his wet
cloth