"Yes," was the answer; "it is her chief occupation and interest. I do
not mean that she has not always her own dear full sympathy for every
one's concerns, but Cocksmoor is her concern, almost more than even
Ethel's. I think she could chronicle every stage in the building better
than Dr. Spencer himself, and it is her daily delight to hear his
histories of his progress. And not only with the church but the people;
she knows all about every family; Richard and Ethel tell her all their
news; she talks over the school with the mistress every Sunday, and
you cannot think what a feeling there is for her at Cocksmoor. A kind
message from Miss May has an effect that the active workers cannot
always produce."

Mrs. Arnott saw that Meta was right, when, in the afternoon, she walked
with her nieces to see Cocksmoor. It was not a desolate sight as in
old times, for the fair edifice, rising on the slope, gave an air of
protection to the cottages, which seemed now to have a centre of unity,
instead of lying forlorn and scattered. Nor were they as wretched in
themselves, for the impulse of civilisation had caused windows to be
mended and railings to be tidied, and Richard promoted, to the utmost,
cottage gardening, so that, though there was an air of poverty, there
was no longer an appearance of reckless destitution and hopeless
neglect.

In the cottages, Mrs. Taylor had not entirely ceased to speak with a
piteous voice, even though she told of the well-doing of her girls at
service; but Granny Hall's merry content had in it something now of
principle, and Sam had married a young Fordholm wife, who promised to
be a pattern for Cocksmoor. Every one asked after Miss May, with a
tenderness and affection that Mrs. Arnott well appreciated; and when
they went into the large fresh school, where Richard was hearing a
class, Cherry Elwood looked quite cheered and enlivened by hearing
that she had been able to enjoy seeing her aunt. Mrs. Arnott was set to
enlighten the children about the little brown girls whom she was wont
to teach, and came away with a more brilliant impression of their
intelligence than she might have had, if she had not come to them fresh
from the Antipodes.

She had to tell Margaret all her impressions on her return, and very
pretty smiles repaid her commendations. She understood better the
constant dwelling on the subject, as she perceived how little capable
Margaret was of any employment. The book, the writing mater