y who was my chief friend--my favorite playfellow.

"I loved Uncle Rolf; child as I was, I very soon learned to reverence
that simple, kindly nature--that loyal heart; and Margaret was like a
dear elder sister; but it was Raby who from the first became my master
and my companion; Raby who instructed and reproved and praised me;
whose frown was my worst punishment; whose smile was my reward.

"It was he who implanted in me a thirst for knowledge; all the leisure
moments he could snatch from his own studies were devoted to mine.
During his college terms he corresponded with me, and planned out my
work during his absence, sparing himself neither time nor pains; and
from the night he carried me in, poor, weary child, to the light and
radiance of his peaceful home--he seemed to have adopted me
peculiarly, until it came to be understood at the Grange that Crystal
was Raby's darling and belonged especially to him.

"I think that if Margaret had not been endowed with that singular
unselfishness that belonged to her nature, she must have missed
something out of her life; once she had been everything to her
brother, but now it was Crystal! Crystal who must bring him his books,
and hunt out the words in the dictionary. Crystal who must tidy his
papers and lay the little spray of flowers beside his plate at
breakfast. Crystal who must go with him on his rounds among the sick
and aged--for true to the priestly office to which he proposed to
dedicate himself, the young under-graduate already devoted a portion
of his time to deeds of charity. Little by little in my childish
selfishness I stole from her her sweetest privileges; the many little
offices with which a loving woman delights to minister to the objects
of her affection, be they father, brother or husband.

"I took the stool at his feet, the low chair at his side, but she
never complained; for the brother and sister understood each other
most truly. In their quiet looks, I have read a mutual assurance that
spoke of perfect trust and undiminished affection; Margaret could
never be jealous of Raby, or Raby of Margaret.

"Raby had very peculiar notions on the subject of female education.

"Mine, for example, was carried on in rather a desultory fashion. I
was not fretted by restraint, or made stupid by long tasks; just
sufficient knowledge was imparted to excite my reasoning powers and
arouse the desire for more. 'Let her learn,' he would say, 'but let
her learn as the bird