send him to
me. He'll not want to see me twice, I'll warrant."

"I was 'feared I was wicked to shrink from it, _Aunt_," I made answer.
"_Nym_ said so. He said 'twas all self-loving and seeking of mine ease
that alone did make me for to hesitate; and that if I had loved God and
my neighbour better than myself, I would have strake hands with him at
once. And I was 'feared lest it should be true."

"Ay, it is none so difficult to paint black white," saith Aunt _Joyce_.
"'Tis alway the self-lovers that cry out upon the unkindliness of other
folks. And thou art one of them, _Nell_, my maid, that be prone to
reckon that must needs be right which goes against the grain. There be
that make self-denial run of all fours in that fashion. They think duty
and pleasure must needs be enemies. Why, child, they are the best
friends in the world. Only _Duty_ is the elder sister, and is jealous
to be put first. Run thou after _Duty_, and see if _Pleasure_ come not
running after thee to beseech thee of better acquaintance. But run
after _Pleasure_, and she'll fly thee. She's a rare bashful one."

"Then you count it not wrong that one should desire to be happy,
_Aunt_?"

"The Lord seems not to count it so, _Nell_. He had scarce, methinks,
told us so much touching the happiness of Heaven, had He meant us to
think it ill to be happy. But remember, maid, she that findeth her
happiness in God hath it alway ready to her hand; while she that findeth
her happiness in this world must wait till it come to seek her."

"I would I were as good as _Father_!" said I; and I believe I fetched a
sigh.

"Go a little higher, _Nell_, while thou art a-climbing," quoth Aunt
_Joyce_. "`I would I were as good as _Christ_.'"

"Eh, _Aunt_, but who could?" said I.

"None," she made answer. "But, _Nell_, he that shoots up into the sky
is more like to rise than he that aims at a holly-bush."

"Methinks _Father_ is higher than I am ever like to get," said I.

"And if thou overtop him," she made answer, "all shall see it but
thyself. Climb on, _Nell_. Thou wilt not grow giddy so long as thine
eyes be turned above."

I am so glad that Aunt _Joyce_ seeth thus touching _Nym_!

SELWICK HALL, OCTOBER YE II.
There goeth my first two pence for a blank week. In good sooth, I have
been in ill case to write. This weary _Nym_ would in no wise leave me
be, but went to _Anstace_ and _Hal_, and gat their ins