her, with Walter clinging shy-eyed to her
gown, went among the other poorer mothers there; talked to one,
comforted another, counselled a third, and invariably listened to all.
There was little of patronizing benevolence about her; she spoke
freely, sometimes even with some sharpness, when reproving comment was
needed; but her earnest kindness, her active goodness, darting at once
to the truth and right of things, touched the women's hearts. While a
few were a little wholesomely afraid of her--all recognized the
influence of "the mistress," penetrating deep and sure, extending far
and wide.

She laughed at me when I told her so--said it was all nonsense--that
she only followed John's simple recipe for making his work-people feel
that he was a friend as well as a master.

"What is that?"

"To pay attention and consideration to all they say; and always to take
care and remember to call them by their right Christian names."

I could not help smiling--it was an answer so like Mrs. Halifax, who
never indulged in any verbal sentimentalism. Her part in the world was
deeds.

It was already evening, when, having each contributed our quota, great
or small, to the entertainment, we all came and sat on the long bench
under the walnut-tree. The sun went down red behind us, throwing a
last glint on the upland field, where, from top to bottom, the young
men and women were running in a long "Thread-the-needle." Their voices
and laughter came fairly down to us.

"I think they have had a happy day, John. They will work all the
better to-morrow."

"I am quite sure of it."

"So am I," said Guy, who had been acting the young master all day,
condescendingly stating his will and giving his opinion on every
subject, greatly petted and looked up to by all, to the no small
amusement of us elders.

"Why, my son?" asked the father, smiling.

But here Master Guy was posed, and everybody laughed at him. He
coloured up with childish anger, and crept nearer his mother. She made
a place for him at her side, looking appealingly at John.

"Guy has got out of his depth--we must help him into safe waters
again," said the father. "Look here, my son, this is the reason--and
it is well not to be 'quite sure' of a thing unless one knows the
reason. Our people will work the better, because they will work from
love. Not merely doing their duty, and obeying their master in a blind
way, but feeling an interest in him and all that belongs to