was in the
glistening eyes of old Markham, the first time he had ever been able
to be justly proud of one of the family, whom he loved with so much
faithfulness and devotion.

CHAPTER 24

Is there a word, or jest, or game,
But time encrusteth round
With sad associate thoughts the same?
--ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.

Among the persons who spent a forlorn autumn was Mr. Ross, though his
troubles were not quite of the same description as those of his young
parishioners. He missed his daughter very much; all his household
affairs got out of order; the school-girls were naughty, and neither
he, nor Miss Edmonstone, nor the mistress, could discover the culprits;
their inquiries produced nothing but a wild confusion of mutual
accusations, where the truth was undistinguishable. The cook never could
find anything to make broth of, Mr. Ross could, never lay his hands on
the books he wanted for himself or anybody else; and, lastly, none of
his shirts ever had their buttons on.

Mary, meanwhile, had to remain through a whole course of measles, then
to greet the arrival of a new nephew, and to attend his christening: but
she had made a vow that she would be at home by Christmas, and she kept
it.

Mr. Ross had the satisfaction of fetching her home from the station the
day before Christmas Eve, and of seeing her opposite to him, on her
own side of the table, in the evening, putting on the buttons, and
considering it an especial favour and kindness, for which to be for ever
grateful, that he had written all his Christmas sermons beforehand,
so as to have a whole evening clear before her. He was never a great
letter-writer, and Mary had a great deal to hear, for all that had come
to her were the main facts, with very few details.

'I have had very few letters, even from Hollywell,' said she. 'I suppose
it is on account of Charles's illness. You think him really better?'

'Yes, much better. I forgot to tell you, you are wanted for their
Christmas party to-morrow night.'

'Oh! he is well enough for them not to put it off! Is he able to be out
of bed?'

'No, he lies perfectly flat, and looks very thin. It has been a very
severe illness. I don't think I ever knew him suffer so much; but,
at the same time, I never knew him behave so well, or show so much
patience, and consideration for other people, I was the more surprised,
because at first he seemed to have relapsed into all the ways he th