ea. Her father seemed
to have been watching for her, with his study door open, for he came
to meet her, took her hand, and said, in a low voice, "My dear child, I
wish you joy. This will be a pleasant message, to bid poor Ritchie good
speed for his ordination, will it not?"

"That it will, papa--"

"Why, Ethel, have you been crying over it all this time?" said he,
struck by the sadness of her voice.

"Many other things, papa. I am so unworthy--but it was not our
doing--but the grace--"

"No, but thankful you may be, to have been the means of awakening the
grace!"

Ethel's lips trembled. "And oh, papa! coming to-day, when I have been
behaving so ill to you, and Miss Bracy, and Flora, and all.

"Have you? I did not know you had behaved ill to me."

"About Miss Bracy--I thought wrong things, if I did not say them. To
her, I believe, I said what was true, though it was harsh of me to say
it, and--"

"What? about pride and temper? It was true, and I hope it will do her
good. Cure a piping turkey with a peppercorn sometimes. I have spoken to
her, and told her to pluck up a little spirit; not fancy affronts, and
not to pester you with them. Poor child! you have been sadly victimised
to-day and yesterday. No wonder you were bored past patience, with that
absurd rabble of women!"

"It was all my own selfish, distrustful temper, wanting to have
Cocksmoor taken care of in my own way, and angry at being interfered
with. I see it now--and here this poor girl, that I thought thrown
away--"

"Ay, Ethel, you will often see the like. The main object may fail or
fall short, but the earnest painstaking will always be blessed some way
or other, and where we thought it most wasted, some fresh green shoot
will spring up, to show it is not we that give the increase. I suppose
you will write to Richard with this?"

"That I shall."

"Then you may send this with it. Tell him my arm is tired and stiff
to-day, or I would have said more. He must answer the clergyman's
letter."

Dr. May gave Ethel his sheet not folded. His written words were now so
few as to be cherished amongst his children.

"Dear Richard,--

"May all your ministerial works be as blessed as this, your first labour
of love. I give you hearty joy of this strengthening blessing. Mine goes
with it--'Only be strong and of a good courage!'

"Your affectionate father,
R. May.

"PS.--Margaret does not gain ground