ure, and if
I don't pass he'll leave me behind."

Mr Farrington was a connoisseur in all matters of art and archaeology; he
took keen pleasure in adding continually to his already large
collection, and considered the finding of a genuine Van Eyck in a
second-hand dealer's shop at Rheims the greatest triumph of his life.
His special hobby, however, did not absorb the whole of his time. He had
represented his county in Parliament, and though he had lost his seat at
the last election, he found much to occupy him in local affairs. He was
a magistrate, a Poor Law Guardian, and Chairman of most of the
charitable institutions in the neighbourhood, taking an active interest
in the Hospital, the Blind Asylum, and the Orphanage. In all his
philanthropic work, Lady Muriel was his right hand. She was slightly
socialistic in her tendencies, and had preferred to marry plain Mr.
Farrington, a commoner and a widower, though she could have made a
brilliant match in her own circle. She was thoroughly happy, however, in
the sphere that she had chosen, and, troubling little about society,
gave herself to a career of usefulness. She personally superintended the
Workhouse Orphanage, knowing every child there by name; and spent one
afternoon weekly at the Blind Asylum, reading or singing to the
inmates, and inspecting their knitting and straw plaiting. She had
instituted a library and reading-room at Grassingford village, and was
collecting funds to add a men's club and a lecture-hall; while the
building of a mission church in an out-of-the-way corner of the parish
was mainly owed to her energy and enterprise. A secretary was obliged to
deal with her large correspondence, for she was practically interested
in the temperance cause, in Women's Guilds of Help, the Fresh Air Fund,
and the Boy Scout movements, all of which involved much trouble and
considerable business ability, if they were to be a success.

In spite of her many duties, Lady Muriel always made time in the
holidays to devote herself specially to her daughter. Mabel adored her
mother, and was absolutely happy if she might accompany her on some
errand of mercy, or take part in any of her various schemes. She liked
to be asked to address envelopes, to write lists of names, or to discuss
the programme for a village concert or the prizes to be offered at a
flower show; and was already beginning to grow quite clever at
organizing small local affairs. This Easter, Aldred was included in