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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hollowmell, by E.R. Burden
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Hollowmell
+       or, A Schoolgirl's Mission
+
+Author: E.R. Burden
+
+Release Date: June 3, 2007 [EBook #21667]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOLLOWMELL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+http://www.pgdp.net (This file was made using scans of
+public domain works in the International Children's Digital
+Library.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+  HOLLOWMELL:
+
+  OR,
+
+  A SCHOOLGIRL'S MISSION.
+
+  BY
+
+  E. R. Burden.
+
+
+  GLASGOW:
+  JOHN S. MARR & SONS,
+  51 DUNDAS STREET.
+  1881.
+
+
+
+
+  CONTENTS.
+
+
+  CHAPTER                                                           PAGE
+
+  I. MINNIE'S PLAN                                                     5
+
+  II. ITS DEVELOPMENT                                                 19
+
+  III. PREPARATIONS                                                   29
+
+  IV. THE FIRST ESSAY                                                 44
+
+  V. AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR                                             54
+
+  VI. A DISPUTE SETTLED                                               78
+
+  VII. MONA'S DEFEAT                                                  94
+
+  VIII. A SUCCESS                                                    115
+
+  IX. THE END                                                        121
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+HOLLOWMELL: OR, A SCHOOLGIRL'S MISSION.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+MINNIE'S PLAN.
+
+
+"Why, wherever _can_ my books be?" exclaimed Minnie Kimberley in a vexed
+tone, as she hunted up and down the schoolroom, opening now one
+cupboard, then another, now a desk, and again diving down to peer under
+some out-of-the-way table or form; for places which one would think the
+most unlikely, were certain to be the places where Minnie's books would
+at length be discovered.
+
+"I can't make it out," she continued, her bright face clouded over with
+vexation, "somehow or other my books always _do_ manage to get lost."
+
+"Perhaps if you could manage to put them back in your desk when you had
+done with them, instead of leaving them lying just wherever you happen
+to be, they might manage to stay there," suggested Mona Cameron, a tall
+young lady, who sat near the window sewing, and who had more than once
+been disturbed by Minnie's voyage of discovery.
+
+"Oh, I've found two of them!" cried Minnie, emerging from beneath a
+distant table, her hands black with dust, and herself nothing abashed by
+Mona's rather sarcastic speech. "I wonder, now, whether I shall be able
+to hunt up the others before Mab finishes her music!"
+
+"O, Mabel Chartres is away," volunteered one of the other girls, "I
+heard her come down fully ten minutes ago."
+
+"That can't be," replied Minnie, "she must have come in here for her
+things before she went away."
+
+"Not at all, seeing she carried them up to the music-room with her that
+she might save time; I heard her say she wanted away soon."
+
+Minnie flew to the corner where Mabel's hat and jacket usually hung, and
+sure enough both were gone. She sat down for a minute ready to cry with
+disappointment, but recovering herself immediately, she choked back the
+tears, and proceeded with the search for her books, though in a rather
+more subdued manner, and with a great deal less bustle and
+talkativeness. At length they were all collected from their various
+hiding-places, and Minnie was ready to depart, but she seemed in no
+hurry to go. She stood leaning against the desk, with a rather
+irresolute look on her face, as if trying to make up her mind to
+something. More than once she moved as if to go, but something seemed to
+arrest her step.
+
+At last she turned to where Mona Cameron still sat at work, and said in
+a clear voice which could be distinctly heard by all the girls in the
+room, "I _will_ try, Mona, to take your advice about putting my books
+back in my desk; I know I'm horribly careless, and I thank you for
+reminding me how I can mend it if I try."
+
+All the girls looked up amazed--Mona herself as amazed as any and also a
+little confused--but Minnie did not wait to see what effect her words
+would produce, she walked straight out after she had spoken, and was not
+a little astonished, and perhaps a little perturbed, to find Miss Elgin,
+the English governess, in the dressing-room where she could not choose
+but hear what had passed. Her face flushed, and she tried to hurry out
+without attracting her notice, but Miss Elgin stopped her as she passed
+the desk at which she sat, and drawing the bright face down to the level
+of her own, kissed her on the forehead with a whispered "That was
+bravely spoken, Minnie," and let her go.
+
+Minnie rushed out into the cool air with a flushed and happy face, and
+her heart beating high with the joy of victory, and the gratification of
+knowing that her effort was appreciated. She ran home without once
+thinking of her disappointment in missing Mabel, but she did not forget
+to seek her own room the first thing when she got in, and pour out her
+thanksgiving for her recent triumph--even although she did find herself
+stopping more than once in the midst of it to go over again in her own
+mind the scene in the dressing-room afterward. After dinner she was
+occupied with her lessons, and she found it just a little difficult to
+settle down to them after the excitement of the afternoon.
+
+She was a girl of a very warm and impulsive temperament, and little
+things were apt to upset her in a way that many people would
+characterize as absurd, but which was, so far from being absurd, simply
+natural and unavoidable in an emotional nature such as hers. It was not,
+therefore, through one cause and another, till she was in bed that she
+recollected how she had wished to speak to Mabel so particularly, and
+what it was she had to speak about. She felt just a little ashamed of
+herself for allowing what had, only that morning, seemed to her a thing
+of the first importance, to be crushed out, and for the moment
+annihilated, by the occurrence of the afternoon. However, she decided to
+make up for it on the morrow, and satisfied with this resolve, she fell
+fast asleep.
+
+Next morning, true to her resolution, she was early at the school so as
+to be able to see Mabel Chartres, her most particular friend and
+constant companion, before the day's work began. Mabel was a little
+late, so Minnie could only whisper to her to wait when school was over,
+and then they were called to their different places, for Minnie, though
+younger by almost a year than Mabel, occupied an advanced position in
+the first class, while Mabel was only in the second, and even there was
+not of much account. Minnie, indeed in most things divided the laurels
+of the school with Mona Cameron who was the oldest pupil, and the
+emulation of the two kept the school in a perpetual state of
+effervescence; Mona being sharp, and at times rather acrid, and Minnie
+bright and sparkling and excitable, the contact of the two natures was
+more than calculated to produce such a result. But on this particular
+day it seemed as if some of the ingredients were wanting, for the
+morning and afternoon passed, to the astonishment of all, without a
+single "phiz" as the girls were wont somewhat felicitously to call the
+frequent passages of arms in which the two girls considered it their
+peculiar privilege to indulge.
+
+Mona had slightly sneered at what she termed Minnie's latest "crank," on
+the preceding evening, but she had been a good deal impressed by the
+courage and simplicity of Minnie's conduct, and in reality admired it,
+while she felt she could never emulate it. She was honest with herself
+whatever she might be with others, and felt in a vague sort of way that
+she might be doing a thing almost as admirable, if not as likely to
+excite admiration, if she could even only for one day keep her sharp
+tongue under control, and refrain from such exercises of the vein of
+sarcasm which was her peculiar characteristic, as at other times she
+held it almost necessary to perform. Thus it was that the school was
+particularly quiet that day, for Minnie was also in a subdued mood, and
+so when school was over and she was at liberty to walk off with Mabel,
+she felt just in the frame of mind for the discussion to which she had
+been looking forward all day.
+
+She felt, however, that she could not proceed with it at present, on the
+way home where they would be liable to interruption at almost every
+turn, so she persuaded Mabel to come home with her. This was no very
+difficult matter, any more than it was an infrequent occurrence, for
+Minnie and Mabel were never very long separate, and having had to leave
+without her friend on the previous evening, had been as much a
+disappointment to Mabel as it had been to Minnie.
+
+It was a remarkable feature in the friendship which existed between
+them, that it was, and always had been free from that species of quarrel
+called "huffs." In the case of nine girls' friendships out of ten, the
+fact of one going off in the way Mabel had done, without an explanation
+afterwards or an intimation before hand, would have formed a very strong
+foundation whereon to raise a structure of evidence to prove that
+something was amiss, which few girls could have resisted. But no such
+idea entered Minnie's head. She simply concluded that something very
+pressing had compelled Mabel to leave earlier than usual, and trusted
+her too completely to connect it in any way with herself.
+
+After dinner they proceeded with their lessons, which seemed to be got
+over in a much shorter time when the two worked together, than when they
+each worked separately, so that they were soon free to settle down
+before the fire in Minnie's room, and begin the subject which had been
+on Minnie's mind for almost four days now.
+
+"Well, Minnie, what is it?" asked Mabel at last, for Minnie seemed to be
+at a loss how to begin, now that the time had come. She walked over and
+sat down on the rug, leaning her head on Mabel's knee, and began, "you
+know, Mab, dear, that it isn't very long since I found out that there
+was anything better in life than laughing and dancing and enjoying one's
+self in the way the world calls enjoyment. I told you all about it
+before, how Mr. Laurence told me about the happiness of being a
+Christian, and living for something beside my own pleasure, and how
+since that I have felt that great happiness myself. I can't talk very
+much about it, because it is so new--and so--I can't find a word for it,
+but I think you'll know what I mean--that I don't quite understand it
+myself, but I feel it all the same, and it has made me another creature.
+I don't think anybody would believe that who only sees the outside of
+me, but it is quite true; I have different thoughts and feelings and
+wishes about everything, and feel altogether as if I had newly awakened
+and could never go to sleep again."
+
+Minnie had rattled on in her usual impulsive fashion, and now pulled up
+suddenly, for Mabel's arm tightened round her arm with a convulsive
+clasp, and her head dropped on her shoulder in a perfect agony of
+weeping.
+
+Minnie felt a good deal of surprise as well as alarm at this sudden
+outburst, for she had never seen Mabel so much overcome before, and just
+now it seemed so altogether unaccountable; she concluded, however, that
+it would be useless to attempt any solution of the mystery until the
+storm had somewhat spent itself; she did not, therefore, trouble her
+with any questions or attempts at consolation, but allowed her to cry on
+unrestrainedly, only changing her position, that she might the better
+render her all the support in her power, and convey to her by every
+means but that of speech her sympathy and concern. At length her sobs
+began to be less convulsive, and her tears to come less freely, and
+soon she was able to speak and assure her friend that she need not be
+under any apprehension concerning her, and that she would soon be able
+to tell her the cause of her grief.
+
+Minnie waited with great patience for some minutes before she would
+allow Mabel to speak again, and then, Mabel protesting that it was all
+over, and that she was quite calm again, began with brimming eyes,
+notwithstanding her protest. "It must have been the narration of your
+happiness that caused me to lose control of myself, I felt the contrast
+between it and my own state of mind so keenly, that I was quite
+overcome--Oh, Minnie, I would give every drop of mere earthly happiness
+to feel for one hour, what you have described!"
+
+Minnie looked at her in astonishment. "Why, Mabel, of course you never
+needed to feel such a thing--you have known about these things all your
+life!"
+
+"Ah, yes!" replied Mabel, "I have known _about_ them, as you say, but I
+have never _known_ them. You know one may know all about a thing or
+person, and yet never know it or him by direct experience."
+
+"That is true," said Minnie, reflectively. "But why did you always try
+to interest me in them, when you really felt no good effect from them
+yourself?"
+
+"Please don't ask me that!" entreated Mabel, "It would be worse than
+useless for me to try to explain it, but it is a fact that I have never
+known such a change as you talk about--as what we call conversion must
+surely imply--so I have never been converted, and that is the reason, I
+suppose, why all my efforts to interest you were always vain. How could
+I hope to lead you to a Saviour I could not see myself?"
+
+Minnie was silent. She could not understand Mabel's difficulty, and
+therefore did not feel able to discuss it. She could not say anything to
+comfort or console her either, from her own short experience, because
+she felt, notwithstanding all that she had just heard, that Mabel was
+years and years before her on the road--further by a long way than all
+the years of her life. She felt this but could not say it; it seemed to
+hover through her mind like a shadow, and she could not grasp it in
+order to put it into words.
+
+Mabel saw how puzzled she was, and realized how dangerous it might be to
+her peace to communicate difficulties of such a nature in her present
+impressionable state; she therefore endeavoured to divert her mind into
+a safer channel by getting her to talk about herself.
+
+"It is very silly of me," she said, "to speak thus to you who have so
+newly begun the race. What should you know of such things? Come, we
+won't talk about them, and I daresay I shall grow out of such morbid
+notions in time; tell me about yourself, I am sure it will do me good;
+you were telling me about how different you felt. Please do go on."
+
+"But are you sure it won't affect you as it did before? I would like to
+tell you about it because of what it has led me to do, and because I
+would like you to feel as I do, if, as you say, you have never felt it."
+And Minnie looked at her with great tears in her eyes, and with a great
+pity in her warm generous heart, wishing she could give half her
+happiness to her friend.
+
+"Go on, dear," said Mabel, "you don't know how much good it will do me."
+
+"Well, but I must tell you, Mabel, that although I am very happy, it
+sometimes troubles me to think how little I am changed outwardly, and
+how nobody but yourself would believe anything of all I have told you. I
+am sure Mona Cameron wouldn't"--she stopped suddenly, half inclined to
+interrupt herself in order to retail to Mabel the incident of the
+previous day, but thinking better of it, she resumed--"It does trouble
+me more than a little, sometimes, but I'm not going to lot it. I know
+about the difference, and you know about it, and better than all, God
+who wrought it knows about it, so what can it matter whether the world
+knows about it or not?"
+
+"But, Minnie," interrupted Mabel, "I don't see that you are quite right
+there; it must be of consequence that we show to the world what side we
+are on."--"O, yes, of course," replied Minnie hastily, "I was just
+coming to that--I meant the school-girls particularly when I said the
+world just now, because I know it will take a long time to convince them
+of the reality of this--indeed I am inclined to think they won't be
+convinced, it won't suit their ideas--but there, I am again! judging
+them just in the very way I am condemning them for judging me. Oh, dear,
+what a long time it will take before I get out of my old way of speaking
+without thought, for which my new way of thinking rebukes me a thousand
+times a day!"
+
+"Patience, dear," recommended Mabel, knowing well what a hard
+recommendation it was to follow, but feeling she must say something.
+
+"Yes, Mabel," returned Minnie, "I _am_ learning patience--even I, who
+never knew what restraint meant all my life, am learning what true
+freedom is for the first time."
+
+Mabel looked down at her wistfully, as if half inclined to say
+something, but remembering her danger she remained silent.
+
+"And that just reminds me," continued Minnie, after a moment's pause,
+"that I have not yet told you the new idea I have been so longing to
+have your opinion upon, since ever it came into my head."
+
+"Well, you must make haste," Mabel answered, "you see its quite late
+already.
+
+"O, it won't take long! I'll just tell you about it, and we can go into
+it some other time, its only a project, you know, and of course I wanted
+to have your opinion and advice first, and your help afterwards."
+
+"All of which you may count on," said Mabel smiling.
+
+"Well, then, I must ask you in the first place, if you know the row of
+houses down beside the pit which papa built for the miners?"
+
+"Yes, I pass it every day coming to school."
+
+"Then you will probably have noticed how ill-kept and dirty the houses
+are, and how untidy the women and children are, who continually lounge
+and romp about the doors."
+
+"Indeed I have," returned Mabel, "and I have often thought what a pity
+it was that those houses which might be made so beautiful, should be
+kept in such a state."
+
+"That is just what papa was saying the other morning at breakfast. He
+said that he had had the houses built on the most approved principles,
+with every sort of convenience and facility for the promotion of health
+and order, and yet when he took a party of gentleman down to the pit
+last week, he was utterly ashamed to observe the squalor and misery of
+the place. He said that some of the worst slums of London could hardly
+be worse, except in the matter of light and air, and even these the
+people seemed to be doing their best to exclude, judging from the dust
+covered and tightly closed windows. It just occurred to me while he was
+speaking that perhaps I might be able to do something to remedy this
+terrible state of affairs. I am sure papa would be glad to do anything
+to help us. I have not said anything to him about it till I should hear
+your verdict, and because I haven't the least shadow of an idea what
+plan would be best to go upon. What do you think of it?"
+
+"I think it will be a very difficult matter, and will require a great
+deal of consideration," replied Mabel thoughtfully.
+
+"But you don't think it impossible or impracticable?" inquired Minnie,
+anxiously.
+
+"Impossible?--no," replied she, "But do you think our hands will be
+strong enough, and our hearts stout enough for such an undertaking. It
+is not a thing we may take up to amuse ourselves with for a moment, and
+throw down when we are tired of it."
+
+"O, there's no fear of _you_ doing that with anything, and as for me, I
+must strike while the iron is hot. You know how new impressions wear off
+with me, and if I don't get into some work of this kind at once, I am
+afraid I'll get cool. I don't mean that I fear going back to where I
+was, but I am not like you, I haven't lived in it all my life, and I
+need something to keep up my interest. It's so with me in everything
+else, and I am sure it won't be different in this case, because of
+course my nature won't change, although my heart has. But that is not
+all; during these few weeks I have been living just in a sort of
+trance--that is, every moment I've been alone, content to dream all the
+time of how good God had been to me, but just the night before papa
+spoke about those people, it suddenly occurred to me that I must do
+something to help others, to find out how good He would be to them if
+they would only let Him. It seemed dreadfully selfish to sit still and
+drink in that wonderful happiness, without offering some of it to others
+when there are thousands dying for a drop of it. So when papa spoke
+about the miners down at Hollowmell, it struck me that here was work
+just ready for me."
+
+She stopped, a little out of breath, and waited to hear what Mabel would
+say.
+
+"Well, it does seem," said Mabel, beginning at the same time to put on
+her jacket and hat, "It does seem as if it was intended you should take
+this in hand; but don't let us do anything rashly. Let us think it over
+carefully for a week, and if we come to the conclusion that it would
+not be too much for us, let us begin operations then."
+
+"O, Mab!" cried Minnie in dismay, "How calmly you talk of putting it
+off. Why, my hands are just aching to get to work, and then, what's the
+use of considering whether or not it will be too much for us; no amount
+of consideration will convince us as one attempt will, and of what use
+is our faith if we cannot make a practical use of it?"
+
+"Perhaps I am over cautious," Mabel admitted, "but let us take at least
+till Saturday to make up our minds as to the best way of going to work,
+as you have already confessed you have not yet thought of a plan."
+
+"Very well," agreed Minnie, kissing Mabel warmly as she bade her
+good-night, "Not a word more till Saturday, when we shall have time
+enough to give the subject the attention it requires. Good-night."
+
+"Good-night," returned Mabel, as she ran lightly down the steps, and was
+soon lost in the gathering darkness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+ITS DEVELOPMENT.
+
+
+Next day there was much open wonder expressed concerning the absence of
+any of the little bursts of excitement with which Mona Cameron and
+Minnie Kimberley were wont to refresh the pupils of Miss Marsden's
+Seminary for young Ladies. Some were even heard expressing
+disappointment with the novel arrangement, and Mona, who seemed as
+utterly at a loss to account for it as the rest, became rather piqued at
+Minnie's serene imperturbability under her most potent thrusts, and was
+fain to exercise her wit on some more vulnerable object. Minnie kept
+closely to her work during lesson time, and even during the pauses
+between classes was observed to sit quite still, attentively
+contemplating the toe of her boot, and never once running over to
+whisper to Mabel as she invariably did when she had something on her
+mind.
+
+Then, when lessons were over, and needlework began, she sat in her usual
+place beside Mabel, but both appeared to be deeply interested in their
+work, and did not exchange a word, although talking was quite allowable
+during that time, and the privilege was usually taken advantage of fully
+by Minnie.
+
+This circumstance was construed by some to indicate that a quarrel had
+taken place between the two friends, and was preying upon Minnie's mind,
+which hypothesis, however, was quickly annihilated when the two walked
+off together as usual, apparently on their usual terms, and in their
+usual spirits.
+
+Next day things stood in exactly the same position, and the girls were
+beginning to get impatient for a solution of the mystery, but no
+solution was forthcoming. Then came Saturday, on which day school was
+not held, and the two friends were at liberty to discuss their project
+in full.
+
+They had arranged that the discussion was to take place at Mabel's home,
+as Minnie's brothers were all at home on Saturday, and would be likely
+to interfere with their intention of keeping the matter private.
+
+Mabel was an only child, her father being a business man with whom the
+world had not dealt too kindly. Her mother was dead, which circumstance
+had first drawn Minnie towards her, for she also was motherless.
+
+A sister of Mr. Chartres kept house for him, so that Mabel was at
+liberty to spend as much time with her friend as she thought proper. She
+would often have felt more comfortable if her aunt would have allowed
+her to remain at home and render her some assistance with her household
+duties, but her aunt was immoveable in her determination to allow no
+interference with what she considered her special department, declaring
+indeed that she could not perform her duties to her own satisfaction, or
+her brother's comfort, if her mind was disturbed by having anyone to
+direct or issue orders to. Thus it was that when Minnie appeared,
+directly after breakfast, Mabel was at liberty to devote herself
+entirely to her. They chatted on various topics of general interest
+until Miss Chartres disappeared into the "lower regions" (as Minnie was
+wont to designate the kitchen floor) on housekeeping duties intent, and
+then they were free to bring forth the matter which was uppermost in
+each of their thoughts.
+
+"Well?" Interrogated Minnie, after a short silence.
+
+"Well?" Repeated Mabel in the same tone.
+
+Minnie laughed.
+
+"Now, don't tease, Mabel!" she exclaimed, "you know I am in earnest, so
+I won't have teasing--and please _don't_ be so awfully cautious: one
+would think you delighted to make a wet blanket of yourself for my
+especial discomfort and confusion."
+
+"Not this 'one,' though," asserted Mabel, slipping her arm round Minnie,
+who tried to get up a terrible frown but failed ignominiously.
+
+"Well, then, tell me the result of your cogitations--you are to be Prime
+Minister, you know."
+
+"Then you must be Queen!" laughed Mabel.
+
+"O, no, I am going to be Chancellor of the Exchequer, thank you, quite a
+high enough post for me."
+
+"My Right Honourable Friend is easily satisfied, truly, but I don't
+think if I had the power of appointment I should entrust such an office
+to you," Mabel remarked.
+
+"You are pleased to be complimentary," returned Minnie, with a
+ludicrous attempt at genteel sarcasm--and then, suddenly dropping her
+assumed stiffness, she continued. "But you don't know what a genius I am
+going to turn out in the region of finances, and I can assure you, you
+will be astonished when I bring forward my first Budget."
+
+"I am certain I shall, one way or other; you are continually astonishing
+one with your ingenuity in various ways."
+
+"Well, to my usual task then--for I have framed several astonishing
+resolutions, which only await your sanction to become law--you see this
+is quite a different form of government from any presently existing, so
+you must not be astonished at the manner of its conduct."
+
+"So I perceive," observed Mabel demurely.
+
+"In the first place, then, you must tell me whether your further
+consideration has confirmed your decision of Wednesday night?"
+
+"Well, I must confess, that the more I thought of the thing, the more
+difficult it seemed, and yet I am convinced more than ever of the
+necessity of our taking it in hand as nobody else seems inclined to do
+so. But how are we to begin?"
+
+"That is just what we intend to consider."
+
+"Of course, education does not seem to have wrought any great result
+yet, for the children are compelled to go to school, yet they don't seem
+to be influenced in any great degree morally by it. I suppose the reason
+of that is that they don't know how to take advantage of it."
+
+"I'll tell you what it is," said Minnie energetically, "Education is
+just what they require, and the sort they get just now would probably
+influence them in time. But we can't wait for that, and so we must do
+our best to help it on, and try to get them to see the good of it, and
+take advantage of it while they may; and the first step towards all this
+is to win their hearts--we must begin with the children, and through
+them we may reach the parents. It won't do to try any of the old methods
+of reform, they're hardened in them all. Mrs. Merton and the missionary,
+not to speak of the Episcopal Church curate, have all assailed them in
+turn, with tracts, hymn books and Sunday-schools--not that I would for a
+moment seem to despise these methods--only I think that in cases like
+this they should be introduced judiciously, and when the people are in a
+fit temper to receive them, and treat them with the respect they
+deserve; instead of being, as it were, thrown at them just at a time,
+when they will most probably not feel inclined to do anything but throw
+them back, and if they can't exactly do that they do the thing next best
+calculated to relieve their feelings--throw them in the fire. Now, I
+don't see that this does any good, and I should not like our efforts to
+be useless as theirs have been. We will take lessons from them and try
+to avoid what seems to have been their great mistake--injudiciousness;
+and perhaps showing a little too plainly that they considered them
+heathen, and were determined to convert them at any cost."
+
+Mabel laughed at Minnie's queer statement of the case, but was
+constrained to admit that it was at least fair in the main, if a little
+severe on the well-meant efforts of the persons referred to.
+
+"Well, its quite clear we must take an entirely different course if we
+wish to succeed," concluded Minnie, "and I hereby beg to propose as our
+first course, a course of Popular Entertainments."
+
+Mabel stared at her in amazement.
+
+"Why, Minnie, are you crazy!" she exclaimed when she recovered her
+breath.
+
+"Well, no, not quite yet I hope," replied Minnie, enjoying the sensation
+she had created, "But I suppose that was rather a big way to put it, I
+don't wonder it took away your breath. The style of entertainment I have
+in my head is a very small, innocent kind of affair, as you will
+perceive when I tell you that they are to be carried out by ourselves,
+and, moreover, that they are not to consist of anything more formidable
+(for the present at anyrate) than the preparation of tea or coffee, and
+the adjuncts pertaining thereunto."
+
+"But how is it to be done?" asked Mabel, scarcely less mystified than
+before, "It can't be done without money, and a good deal of money too."
+
+"That's just what bothered me at first," Minnie replied, "Of course, I
+knew I could get the money from papa if I asked him for it, and could
+assure him it was for a good purpose, but I wasn't going to do that,
+because, in the first place, I wished to keep the thing a secret between
+ourselves till we see how it will work, and in the next place I didn't
+want to take the money from papa at all; so I thought out a plan, but to
+carry it out we _must_ take papa into our secret."
+
+"Perhaps it would be as well to do that in any case," remarked Mabel,
+"seeing it happens to be his work-people with whom we have to do, and I
+daresay it is only fair and just that he should know about it. However,
+let me hear the plan."
+
+"You remember I told you I was laying past money for a sealskin jacket.
+Papa thought I was too young to have one last year, but he promised me
+that if I had a certain sum by my next birthday he would give me the
+rest. I have saved a good deal, for I have done without some things--a
+good many things--and given the money they would have cost to papa to
+keep for me because I was always afraid I might use it for something
+else. I should have, I think, about seven or eight pounds by this time,
+which will, I am sure, with part of our pocket-money, and clever
+management go a good way to start us fairly on our expedition, don't you
+think so?"
+
+"Why, yes, that is quite a fortune; but are you sure you won't be sorry
+for it when your birthday comes and you can't have the jacket you've
+wished for so long?"
+
+"O, I suppose I _shall_ be sorry that I can't have the jacket, but that
+won't matter much, I shall be so much more happy that it has been spent
+in doing good that it will be recompense for any amount of jackets."
+
+"But we must have some more definite plan than this to work upon, and
+there will be no end of arrangements to be made. How about a place
+where the entertainments may be held?"
+
+"I've thought of that too," said Minnie, her eyes sparkling with
+delight. "Such a glorious idea occurred to me yesterday, as I was coming
+home; after I left you I went round by the Hollow--I was sorry I did not
+think of it sooner, I might have gone along with you as far as
+that--well, I noticed that one of the houses in the corner is not
+occupied, and it struck me we might have that, as long as it is empty at
+anyrate, to hold our meetings in. I am sure papa will consent."
+
+"The very thing!" exclaimed Mabel, clapping her hands. "I noticed that
+house also, and it did occur to me that it would be a promising spot,
+but the idea of asking it, or even hinting at such a thing never entered
+my mind."
+
+"I am so glad that you like it. Now, confess that the exact direction in
+which my genius lies has at last been revealed. I was sure you would
+discover it some day."
+
+"Pray, be more explicit, my talented friend," requested Mabel. "I am
+doubtless very dull, but I should like to be quite certain about the
+direction to which you alluded just now."
+
+"Well I'm afraid I can't enlighten you very much," said Minnie, with a
+look of comical dismay, "I am about as uncertain as yourself. I was just
+trusting to your general stupidity not to go any deeper into the
+subject, but simply to take my word for it."
+
+"I think I won't cause you any further confusion by discussing the
+matter more fully, but proceed to business. What do you think of taking
+a walk down there this afternoon, and viewing the battlefield?"
+
+"I am quite agreeable," responded Minnie, "and I shall speak to papa
+to-night about our other arrangements. I must be off now, and dispose of
+some of my lessons so that I may have time--I shall expect you about
+four."
+
+"Very well," agreed Mabel. "But I shall only have an hour to spare,
+remember, I must be back by five."
+
+"All right, we won't put off any time, you may count on my being ready."
+And off she went with a light heart.
+
+Mabel turned back and went in with a sigh.
+
+"How bright and gay she is," said she to herself. "To look at her now,
+one would think that a serious thought never entered her head, and yet
+how full of good and unselfish thoughts that little head is, for all its
+giddiness.
+
+"She spoke just now of giving some of the blessings she had received to
+others, to those who were thirsting for one drop, and did not guess that
+I who stood so near her was even one of those. It would only trouble and
+distress her to know how dark my mind is about these things which she
+thinks I have known all about for years--aye, truly I _have_ known about
+them since I knew anything, yet of what use has the knowledge been to
+me. It's like the 'learned lumber' Pope speaks about--it's like
+rummaging in a library without a light. O, will light such as Minnie
+speaks about ever dawn in my heart? Will such a change as has beautified
+and softened her life with such a sweet and gracious influence, ever
+come near to touch mine? Minnie, my friend, you seek my aid to walk in
+the path you think I know so well, but it is I who should lean on you. I
+hold the scroll in my hand, but you have the guide in your heart." So
+thinking she turned wearily from the window and began her studies.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+PREPARATIONS.
+
+
+Sharply at four, Mabel appeared at the door of Minnie's home, and she,
+being quite ready, they proceeded without delay to carry out their
+purpose of "viewing the battlefield" as Mabel remarked.
+
+Hollowmell was a lovely glade which lay at the foot of a gentle
+eminence, immediately behind which lay the pit whose ugly shaft was
+almost hid by it. No one would have imagined that such a thing lay in
+the immediate neighbourhood who saw the glade before the row of miner's
+cottages had been erected on one side of it by Mr. Kimberley for the
+convenience of his work-people, and even yet the beauty of the scene
+would not have been marred by the pretty picturesque-looking little red
+brick houses with their white-coppiced windows and green-painted sashes,
+if the carelessness and disorder which reigned within had not been
+reflected without in the neglected plots of ground attached to each
+cottage, in the dirty window-panes, and in the untidy women and
+children, and occasionally begrimed men who seemed to have no other
+object in life than to hang about and complete the disgrace they had
+wrought on the fair face of nature.
+
+Mabel and Minnie walked along the entire row, as the empty cottage stood
+at the further end, looking with a new interest at the faces with which
+they were both well acquainted by sight, and being rewarded by stares of
+stony indifference. They went into the empty cottage, and Mabel cried
+out with pleasure, as she looked round the bright, cheerful apartments,
+wondering how anyone could feel anything but pride and interest in
+keeping such a house in order.
+
+"Why," she said, "I would not wish any pleasanter place to live in
+myself, nor any lovelier view to feast my eyes on."
+
+Minnie laughed and said that her papa always said these houses should
+belong to her some day, and when that time came she would make this one
+a present to Mabel, unless indeed, she would allow her to share it.
+After that, they took their leave, convinced that it would answer their
+purpose exactly.
+
+Minnie made a message into one of the cottages on their way back to make
+inquiries concerning one of the children whom she knew to be ill.
+
+This house was about the most respectable in the entire row, and yet it
+might have borne a great deal in the way of improvement. The child's
+mother was quite a young woman, probably not over twenty-two, yet there
+were two other children playing on the floor, while she herself sat
+sewing the braid of her skirt with white thread in great uneven
+stitches, the dishes and remains of dinner still upon the table.
+
+She jumped up as they tapped at the open door, and having hastily bade
+them enter, she dived into an adjoining room from whence she produced
+two chairs, talking in a pleasant, though rather loud voice all the
+time. They thanked her, but would not sit down, as they had only a few
+minutes to spare, and having ascertained that the little girl was
+progressing favourably, they departed.
+
+"I think I'd better go home this way," said Mabel, when they got to the
+end of the glade. "It is my soonest way home, and I have got a great
+deal to do. I suppose I shall see you at church to-morrow?"
+
+"O, yes," returned Minnie. "And I shall speak to papa to-night. I'll
+just whisper to you whether it's all right or not, when I see you
+to-morrow."
+
+"And I suppose that after that it will be a free subject, and liable to
+be discussed at any time?" queried Mabel, smiling.
+
+"Certainly," assented Minnie, a little puzzled.
+
+"O, Minnie, you can't think how amused I was at your efforts to keep
+from speaking about it yesterday and the day before! You would open your
+lips to say something every five minutes, and then suddenly recollecting
+yourself, you would close them again with a determined snap, but it was
+hard work to keep them closed, I could see that plainly enough."
+
+Minnie laughed.
+
+"I know it was," she confessed, "but I must say I did not dream that my
+efforts would be appreciated as thoroughly as they seem to have been."
+
+"Well, be thankful it _is_ so," advised Mabel. "And now I'm off.
+Good-bye."
+
+That evening Minnie, seizing a favourable moment when the boys were all
+out, and she and her father alone, unfolded to him her scheme for the
+reformation of Hollowmell. He was, of course, greatly surprised, and at
+first very reluctant to allow his daughter to go among these people,
+even for the purpose she had at heart.
+
+"You don't know what sort of people these miners are, my dear," he said
+when Minnie had made known to him in as few words as possible what she
+wished to do. "And as for reforming them, I don't think that possible, I
+don't indeed. You had better leave that to the missionary, I think, or
+to some one who knows the sort of folks they are, and how to deal with
+them."
+
+"But they have proved that they don't know how to deal with them, they
+have all failed, so I mean to try a different plan from any of the
+common methods, besides I shall only have to do with the children at
+first; I want to try to influence the older people through them. Come,
+papa, _do_ let me have the cottage and make a trial, and I promise if
+the result does not please you to give it up at the end of a month."
+
+Mr. Kimberly shook his head a good deal, and grumbled a little that she
+might find something better to occupy her time than amusing a lot of
+dirty ragamuffins who would never thank her for her trouble, but finally
+gave in, to the unbounded delight of Minnie, who, it may be remarked,
+had never entertained a doubt as to the final issue of the debate,
+knowing well that her father would refuse her nothing on which she had
+so strenuously set her heart.
+
+"And how about the jacket?" he inquired, when she laid before him her
+financial scheme, in a business-like manner which greatly amused and
+delighted him.
+
+"O, you know, I can do without that quite well. You don't imagine,
+surely, that it is because a sealskin is warmer or for any reason of
+that description that I want it. It is only because it looks finer, and
+it is so great a satisfaction to have such a thing that I wanted it--in
+fact, only to gratify my vanity, which is gratified too much already by
+a certain old gentleman who evidently thinks there never _was_ such
+another girl as his daughter."
+
+"Come, now, young lady, don't abuse your old father in that insinuating
+manner, for he won't stand it, and as for your vanity, you don't
+overstate it a bit; but we'll see whether the inhabitants of Hollowmell
+won't contrive to rid you of some of that."
+
+"Just one thing, papa," said Minnie, as she kissed and thanked him
+again, before retiring for the night. "Please keep it a secret from the
+boys. You know how they would tease me about it if they knew."
+
+"Very well, it is not likely it would have occurred to me to mention it
+to them, but it is just as well to be on guard. When do you begin
+operations?"
+
+"As soon as we can have everything in working order."
+
+"Well, here's some money to start with, and see you make a good use of
+it. We'll arrange about your own money when I have more time."
+
+Minnie ran off with her prize--a bright, golden sovereign--and found
+herself scarcely able to sleep that night for dreaming of the wonders
+which were to be affected through her agency in Hollowmell.
+
+Next day she only saw Mabel for a few minutes as they came out of
+church, but even that short time was sufficient for the communication of
+a whispered account of her success, the narration of which afforded
+Mabel quite as much delight as its accomplishment had afforded Minnie.
+It is just possible, indeed, that the consideration of their project
+occupied rather more of their attention on that day, at least, than the
+sermon did. Mabel had to take herself to task severely several times
+during the afternoon service, and Minnie, without thinking very much
+about it, found herself mixing up the Epistle to the Galatians with a
+homily to be delivered to the inhabitants of Hollowmell upon some
+important occasion, the exact nature of which she had not yet clearly
+settled in her mind.
+
+Next day there was more than one "phiz" between Minnie and Mona, owing
+to the fact that Minnie's mind was so entirely occupied by her new
+undertaking, that she could not manage to give more than a small part of
+her attention to her lessons. This was a matter of no small
+gratification to Mona, who was rather more profuse, in consequence, with
+her sharp remarks, which Minnie was in no mood to brook patiently.
+
+Some of Minnie's books were lost as usual, when at last she was free to
+go, for although she had tried, and been pretty successful too, in
+keeping her books together since her promise to do so, they sometimes
+reverted to their old habit of getting lost again, and to-day she had
+almost fallen back to her former careless state.
+
+Mona looked on from time to time when she could spare a minute from her
+work, and at last observed in her most sarcastic manner that "fair words
+were easily spoken and light vows swiftly broken."
+
+Minnie flared up in a moment.
+
+"Fair words are easily spoken, as you say, Mona," she retorted, "you
+speak of what you know nothing. It may be so. Sharp things cost more, I
+dare say, and that is doubtless why they are generally more successful
+in their aim."
+
+Mona laughed disagreeably, and enquired with mock politeness, "at what
+object Minnie might at present be aiming."
+
+She was about to retort with a bitterness scarcely less penetrating than
+Mona's own sharp thrusts, when she suddenly checked herself, and putting
+her books which she had now collected under her arm, she walked out
+without even waiting for Mabel, lest she should find the temptation to
+speak too strong for her. Her heart was very heavy as she walked
+homewards, and her eyes _would_ keep filling with tears.
+
+Only last night she had been so happy in her efforts to do good, and
+here she was, actually as bad as any of the people she had been
+flattering herself she could reform. What _was_ she to do? she asked
+herself a hundred times, and then it occurred to her that she must tell
+God about it.
+
+She hastened home, and shutting herself into her room poured out all her
+sorrow and contrition into the ear of Him who is ever ready to hear and
+comfort. When she rose she felt both refreshed and strengthened, and
+after a little while something came into her mind which she had, only by
+chance, heard the minister say yesterday. She could not tell the exact
+words, for she had only a vague remembrance of it, but it was something
+about the mistake of allowing anything, however good and right it might
+be in itself, to come between us and our present duty.
+
+"That is just the mistake I have fallen into," thought Minnie, "I ought
+to have been attending to my lessons, which were clearly of the first
+importance at the time, and having gone wrong at the beginning, I
+naturally fell into a great many other scrapes. I must remember that
+about present duty. I am rather afraid I allowed the same thing to occur
+yesterday in church, or I should have been better able to recollect the
+words I wanted just now."
+
+On the afternoon of the following day, which happily contained no cause
+of regret to Minnie, she and Mabel went down to the vacant cottage, and
+occupied themselves for about two hours busily and happily in rendering
+it fit for their purpose. They were determined to do all the scrubbing
+and cleaning themselves, so on that and the two following afternoons all
+the time they could spare was devoted to the work.
+
+Having got it thoroughly bright and clean, they proceeded to arrange a
+variety of odd pieces of furniture, dragged by Minnie from their place
+of concealment in a large attic, where such things were allowed to
+accumulate, and supplemented by various old benches, which the gardener
+had been only too glad to get rid of.
+
+These had been transported to their place of consignment by him during
+the early hours of the morning, when the lazy inhabitants were still
+wrapped in slumber, the hour being discriminately chosen to avoid the
+notice of such miners as might be going or returning from the pit.
+
+These arrangements being successfully carried out by Thursday evening,
+Minnie paid a visit to all the houses which contained children, and
+asked leave that they might attend a small treat which they intended to
+provide for their enjoyment on the following Saturday.
+
+Various were the forms of reception which she received. Some regarded
+the proposal with contempt, enquiring with ironical interest what manner
+of "treat" they were going to stand, and whether they would not include
+parents also in their invitations, Others affected anger, and wondered
+what the "likes of them" had to do coming among poor folk's bairns, and
+stuffing their heads with their "high and mighty nonsense," whatever
+style of absurdity such a term might be held to describe.
+
+However, she won over most of them with her bright winning manner, and
+sweet, unaffected graciousness, and seemed when she left their dirty and
+untidy dwellings to leave something behind in them that had never been
+there before.
+
+On Friday evening she and Mabel had a wonderful shopping expedition, to
+provide the necessary utensils for the preparation of their
+entertainment. These absorbed the greater part of their treasure, but
+happily Mabel had some of her pocket-money left which was a great help.
+
+Then they made everything ready for the morrow, the whole forenoon of
+which was to be devoted to cooking, for they had mutually agreed that
+all the eatables were to be of their own manufacture--unless, indeed,
+they were found to be unpalatable to their guests, in which case they
+should resort to other methods.
+
+Minnie could make oat-cake of a specially delicious kind, so it was to
+be introduced, Mabel had learnt to make gingerbread of quite an uncommon
+quality, which was also to make its appearance; and various other
+delicacies, easily made and of general popularity, were placed upon
+their bill of fare.
+
+There was much fun and merriment over their cooking operations next day,
+and when all were completed, both girls came to the conclusion that
+working for the good and happiness of others, was in itself an excellent
+cure for irritability, and all forms of bad temper.
+
+"Do you remember the time," enquired Minnie, "when I invited all the
+girls in the singing-class to tea? How I did fret about the cake-basket
+being old-fashioned, and moaned about the pattern of the tea cups." And
+she laughed again at the recollection.
+
+"And how perfectly tragic you became on the subject of the drawing-room
+curtains," reminded Mabel laughing also.
+
+"I don't think," continued Minnie, "that we were ever so near
+quarrelling as we were that day about those very curtains. Well, that
+was all because I wished to make a show before the girls, not to have
+them enjoy themselves. Now it is quite different. We don't mind at all
+what like the things about us are, as long as the things we make are
+good, and the children enjoy themselves."
+
+"That reminds me," said Mabel, "that we have forgotten to provide
+ourselves with confections--they will doubtless be in great request."
+
+"Of course, what could we be thinking about! We must see after them
+immediately--or stay! Perhaps you could get them when you are coming
+back--don't you think that would do?"
+
+"I am sure it would, and would save time which is precious," agreed
+Mabel, and so it was settled.
+
+Their preparations being completed about two o'clock, they repaired to
+their respective homes, locking the door upon their possessions with a
+delightful sense of proprietorship and satisfaction, after a solemn
+mutual reminder concerning the necessity of being back sharp at four, as
+the festivity was arranged to take place at five prompt.
+
+Minnie found her father and four brothers in the parlour when she came
+in, flushed and breathless with her run home.
+
+"Hallo, Min!" Exclaimed Charlie, the eldest of her brothers, a young man
+of about twenty-two. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself, rushing off
+directly breakfast's over and leaving your poor unhappy encumbrances of
+brothers to amuse themselves as best they can during the long hours of
+a Saturday morning. Here are Ned and I, who only get a peep of home once
+a week, and even on that occasion we seldom get half a peep of you.
+Confess now, isn't it too bad?"
+
+"Bad!" put in Ned, before she could speak, "It's villainous. Here am I,
+shut up in a dingy office all week and every day of the week, with
+nothing more amusing than that highly respectable old humbug,
+Blackstone, to lighten the weary moments, and when I come home it isn't
+a bit better."
+
+"Oh, you two poor, neglected beings!" Cried Minnie, laughing heartlessly
+at their rueful faces, "What would you like me to do for your amusement?
+Read goody stories to you, or play at wild beasts?--Which?"
+
+"Why, you're just as heartless as any other girl could possibly be,"
+asserted Ned.
+
+"And haven't I quite as good a right?" enquired Minnie saucily. "Pray,
+tell me why shouldn't I be?"
+
+"Oh, as to that, you may be just as heartless as you please to other
+fellows--the more so the better, _I_ should say--but you might have a
+little consideration for the feeling of your brothers," replied Ned,
+calling up a look of tragic gloom, delightful to behold.
+
+"I say," interrupted Archie at this juncture, "I'm ferociously hungry.
+Do let's see about having something to eat. In my opinion, the best way
+to amuse one's self under the present circumstances, and to lay the
+foundation of an imperturbable temper, is to satisfy the cravings of the
+inner man."
+
+"Well spoken!" approved Charlie, patting him on the head, "you're a
+sound philosopher, my boy, and deserve every honour."
+
+"''Tis not for praise, my voice I raise,'" sang Charlie, "I speak only
+in the interests of common sense, and common necessity," he continued in
+a sepulchral voice, "and I rather think Pope had the same interests at
+heart when he represented justice weighing solid pudding against empty
+praise."
+
+They all laughed at the extreme literalness of Archie's interpretation,
+which Charlie declared would probably have afforded the great poet
+himself unbounded satisfaction. By this time they had made the
+transition from the parlour to the dining-room, where, on the table just
+by Minnie's plate lay a letter, directed in a peculiar yet beautiful
+form of writing. Ned, in passing, was arrested by it, and lifted it the
+better to observe its beauty.
+
+"Look here!" he exclaimed, "what peculiar writing--I never saw anything
+like this before. Did you, Charlie?"
+
+Charlie, thus appealed to, came round to see, and started slightly when
+his eyes fell upon it, but quickly recovering himself, he glanced at it
+indifferently, and remarked that it was very pretty in a careless tone,
+which yet had in it an uneasy ring.
+
+"Whose writing is it?" asked Ned, bluntly, as Minnie at last obtained
+possession of it after it had been criticized and admired by all in
+turn, with the exception of Charlie, who stood somewhat aloof, humming a
+tune with a strained assumption of carelessness, which was only noticed
+by Seymour, the only member of the family who had been silent during
+the conversation.
+
+"O, it's a girl in our school--Mona Cameron--a deadly enemy of mine,"
+said Minnie with a laugh as she made the last assertion, "Some of the
+girls call her 'Soda' and me 'Magnesia,' because we always create a
+'phiz' when we come into contact."
+
+She opened the letter carelessly and found it to contain, as she had
+expected it would, some information relative to an examination for which
+they were both working. She put the note in her pocket when she had read
+it, but left the envelope on the table.
+
+Nothing more was said on the subject, but when Minnie came into the
+dining-room about half-an-hour afterward for something she had left
+there, she found Charlie standing by the window with the envelope in his
+hand, gazing at it with a look that was more than merely critical. He
+put it down hastily as she entered, and remembering his former
+indifference, she enquired laughingly if he was trying to discover the
+writer's character from her caligraphy. He laughed too, but it was not a
+mirthful laugh, and soon after, went out; Minnie observed, however, that
+the envelope no longer lay where he had laid it, and turned back to look
+for it, thinking it must have fallen, but it was not to be found.
+
+"Charlie must have taken it with him," she thought. "Is it possible that
+he has fallen in love with Mona's writing without knowing Mona herself.
+Well, when one thinks of it, Mona's writing is almost Mona's self, and
+any one who would be likely to fall in love with it would be almost
+likely to fall in love with her. She is just as beautiful and delicate
+and sharp," she continued to herself, taking out Mona's note and looking
+at it attentively, "and just the same something about both that repels
+one and produces an uncomfortable sensation without any visible cause."
+
+She put back the note in a hurry, remembering how much she had to do,
+and soon forgot the circumstance among the multitude of other matters
+which immediately claimed her attention.
+
+She found her time fully occupied till shortly before four o'clock, and
+had a pretty exciting scramble to be at Hollowmell at the time
+appointed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+THE FIRST ESSAY.
+
+
+Mabel was already there when she arrived, and the two set to work in
+earnest, buttering great piles of tea-cakes and toasted muffins, which
+were all set forth in tempting array when the children began to appear
+at the door, looking in with some bashfulness at first, but plucking up
+courage after sundry peeps at the good things, they came trooping in, in
+goodly numbers--a motly throng, ranging in point of age, from about
+seven to fourteen, and in point of condition, from ragged and torn
+urchins, with dirty faces and uncombed hair, to mill-girls of various
+ages with shining faces, and ribbons of different degrees of dirtiness
+in their crimped and frizzled tresses.
+
+They were led by Mabel into another apartment, where accommodation was
+provided for those who desired to improve their toilet with such
+additions as soap and water and a certain amount of vigorous brushing
+could afford. These arrangements completed, they were marshalled into
+the largest room the house contained, where it was found that, although
+an apartment of no mean dimensions, it was still hardly large enough to
+accommodate the throng comfortably. However, by dint of squeezing and
+crushing, and amid not a little noise and merriment, they were at last
+all wedged in, "like figs in a box," as Minnie humourously remarked
+thinking she was saying quite a smart thing, out of which delusion she
+was at once awakened by one of the smallest and most ragged of the
+urchins present, who promptly suggested "herring" as a more appropriate
+simile. This view of the case being evidently a popular one, and,
+moreover, being more favourably received by the assemblage, Minnie felt
+it to be her duty to admit the correction, and next fell to wondering
+how they would manage to get out again. The difficulty did not seem to
+strike the children as being an insuperable one, they even proposed to
+tackle and overcome it on the spot--merely as an experiment, in order to
+show that it could be done--which obliging proposal, however, was not
+accepted. One row of small boys, nevertheless, fired with a desire to
+distinguish themselves in some way or other, tilted back the bench on
+which they sat so far that they completely lost their equilibrium, and
+indubitably proved the possibility of _their_ getting out, at least, by
+finding themselves on the floor in various ungraceful positions, and
+with several pretty hard knocks.
+
+These had of course to be re-packed, which ceremony being accomplished,
+the business of eating and drinking commenced in earnest.
+
+This occupied a considerable part of the time which was thereafter
+filled up with games and songs supplied by the young folks themselves,
+Minnie and Mabel merely superintending.
+
+They departed about nine o'clock, all highly pleased with themselves,
+each other, and most of all with the young ladies who had provided for
+them this means of enjoyment. Each of them carried away some remnant of
+the feast, and better than that, all carried to their homes and
+scattered there all unconsciously, the seeds of kindness which had that
+night been scattered so freely in their own hearts; for Minnie could not
+let them go away, even on that first night of her experiment, without
+saying to them a word about the kind "Master" who had put it into her
+head to give them this pleasure, and offering up a short and simple
+petition that her efforts might be attended with the result she aimed
+at, namely, the winning of these young souls for the Master's service.
+
+There were no murmurings as they ran home about their fun being turned
+into a prayer-meeting, as would doubtless have been the case had the
+Missionary or the Curate tried such a plan, but none of those who were
+likely to give the matter a second thought suspected a girl not much
+older than themselves of such a thing, and the younger ones did not
+trouble themselves with motives, but thought it nice to have the young
+lady speaking so sweetly and gently to them, with tears in her eyes too,
+and determined firmly, though they were scarcely conscious of the
+determination, to please her by every means in their power, and from
+that moment were her devoted champions.
+
+Mabel and Minnie had had a slight difference of opinion on the subject
+of allowing the children to provide the games and songs entirely
+themselves. Mabel thought it likely they would introduce rather rough
+games, and possibly rude songs, and that it might be better if they
+themselves suggested the games, and allowed only such songs to be sung
+as should be approved by them.
+
+"Because," she remarked, "We mean to educate them to something better
+than what forms their enjoyment at present, and this ought to be a
+beginning."
+
+The latter part of Mabel's suggestion was received by Minnie with some
+favour, and at length, indeed, admitted as a rule of the house, but the
+first clause she resolutely objected to as too decided an invasion, and
+Mabel was obliged to yield.
+
+"It is quite true that we mean to educate them to something better, but
+we must not frighten them away at the beginning with stringent
+regulations. If we do, we shall have no opportunity of educating them at
+all."
+
+And so it was settled, and as it happened, they had no cause to regret
+their decision, for many of their little friends confessed long
+afterwards, that it was the complete freedom from restraint and from any
+attempt to introduce other than their customary forms of enjoyment, that
+induced them to return again and again when the plan was almost wholly
+changed.
+
+Next morning Minnie rose with a light heart, feeling that she was better
+as well as happier for her last night's exertions, and during the whole
+of that week things went smoothly with her, for the spell of a sacred
+charge was upon her, and its influence mellowed and subdued her native
+sweetness, till it seemed to those about her something unearthly, and
+the girls regarded her with something like awe, all but Mona Cameron,
+who, if she noticed any difference, would not acknowledge it, and
+laughed at the others for their absurdity.
+
+"I'll show you," she said, as they were talking about it one afternoon
+after Minnie had gone home, "How far her saintliness will carry her. You
+all say that she never gets provoked except with me. Well, I promise
+you, I'll provoke her; I know her, and exactly how long any impression
+lasts with her. I suppose she's been attending some revival meeting and
+got this wonderful sweetness there, but I'll scatter it, I promise you."
+
+"Well, I don't think that fair any way you look at it," remarked another
+girl, who was standing by. "It can't be right to try and make anybody
+sour just for spite, and as for Minnie, you can't make her sour whatever
+you do, so it is only lost time. She's just sweetness itself always,
+though she _has_ a quick temper, and lets it get roused very easily now
+and then. But it can't be right to make any one worse, we are all bad
+enough for that matter, and should have enough to do to look after
+ourselves."
+
+"I'm glad you have the candour to confess it, Agnes, but speak for
+yourself another time, please, it's quite enough responsibility for a
+young lady of your age," replied Mona with asperity, "Your notions of
+what is right or wrong are of no consequence to me whatever."
+
+After that none dared to add a word, for they were, one and all, afraid
+of Mona's sharp tongue; nevertheless, they felt the injustice of her
+attack, and resented it in their hearts, for Minnie was their favourite,
+and they all knew that Mona was jealous of Minnie's position as such, no
+less than of her rivalry in other matters. However, though she did her
+best by long-successful methods, to upset Minnie's tranquillity next day
+she found it of no use. Minnie was living in another world just then,
+and the sound of strife could not come near her.
+
+Mabel noticed these efforts on the part of Mona with growing
+indignation, but seeing they fell harmless, judged it best to be silent
+on the subject. There was also another eye which saw and noted these
+things--that of Miss Elgin, the English governess, who was more among
+the girls than any of the other teachers, and she kept a vigilant watch,
+determined to check Mona's tactics whenever they should go too far.
+
+But Minnie was all unconscious of these things, and in this way Saturday
+arrived, and the two girls again held their simple entertainment.
+
+At the close of the evening, before the children left it was announced
+from the chair, which was occupied by Mabel, that a prize would be given
+at the end of a stated time to whichever of the young people then
+present could show the best kept garden.
+
+This was the first step towards the improving of the place outwardly,
+which they both considered their plain duty to begin at the very
+outset, seeing it was with this view they had obtained the use of the
+house.
+
+Minnie arranged with the gardener to procure the necessary implements
+for those who had not already got them. These were partially supplied by
+him out of a hoard of old ones which he was very glad to be rid of, and
+partially through the co-operation of a friend of his who also obtained
+permission so to dispose of his superfluous stock, leaving only a few to
+be provided out of the "Exchequer," as Minnie stated at next meeting
+with due gravity and importance.
+
+It was necessary to exercise a little diplomacy in the distribution of
+these, as they were a little afraid there might be some dissatisfaction
+felt about some getting new spades and rakes, and others not. This
+difficulty they soon disposed of, however, by the new ones being bought
+of a smaller size than usual, and only the youngest being supplied with
+these.
+
+Thus the minds of the two girls were occupied during their leisure time
+in devising new schemes for the furtherance of the good work they had
+originated, and were so kept free from the morbid and unhealthy train of
+thought into which girls of their age with nothing better to interest
+them are so apt to fall. And thus their work went on, and the month of
+probation for which Minnie had asked was nearly at an end.
+
+Some fruits of their labours were already beginning to make themselves
+visible. The children always made it a point to appear on Saturdays, at
+least, with clean faces and neatly-combed hair, and altogether as tidy
+generally as circumstances would permit; and were to be found, on other
+afternoons, instead of lying about the little gardens, enhancing their
+disorder, hard at work with their spades and other implements, engaged
+in weeding them and setting them in order; so that the outward aspect of
+Hollowmell was being improved at any rate, upon which indication of
+success the two friends congratulated themselves much, and felt more
+than repaid for their efforts and sacrifices both of time and money.
+
+Mr. Kimberly had not given much thought to Minnie's freak, as he called
+it, after consenting to it, and had in fact dismissed it from his mind
+and forgotten all about it, when Minnie informed him one evening that it
+was now a month since they commenced their work, and as they had
+obtained his permission to use the house for only that length of time,
+she begged him to continue it if the house were still unlet.
+
+"O, yes, I remember now," he said. "The house at the end of the hollow.
+No, it is not let to anybody but you. I had almost forgotten that it was
+you who occupied it till this moment. I was just remarking to Menzies,
+the manager down at the pit, the other day that it was by far the most
+respectable house in the place."
+
+"I suppose that is because we keep the windows clean," laughed Minnie.
+
+"Well, as you seem to be such good tenants--you and your friend--I don't
+think I can do better than give you another lease of it," remarked Mr.
+Kimberly, smiling at her delighted face. "By the way, I suppose that is
+some of your work--the general improvement in the grass plots?"
+
+"O, no, papa, that is what the children do themselves. And what do you
+think, papa, one of the little fellows actually comes regularly and
+weeds our beds, because we haven't time to attend to them ourselves. He
+did it at first without any prompting but that of gratitude, and now
+some of the others help him, and so they keep our garden tidy as well as
+their own."
+
+"Yes, yes, Slyboots, but who put the idea of keeping their own tidy,
+into their heads? It didn't grow there, I am sure of that."
+
+"Well, _I'm_ not quite so sure of that," replied Minnie, shaking her
+head wisely. "Perhaps it has been there a long while, and only required
+some one to tap it out."
+
+"Well, well," returned Mr. Kimberly with an amused expression, "as you
+have been so clever as to tap this one out, who knows how many more you
+may tap out before long, so go on and prosper, and remember if you run
+short of funds you may draw on me, because I should like to see my
+work-people in a better condition, though I haven't time to attend to it
+myself, and _they_ wont. They don't seem to see the good of spending
+money on anything but drink, and that is how it is, though they have
+good houses and fair pay, they are always dirty and miserable and
+discontented." And a weary look took the place of his former amused one,
+as he turned again to the heap of papers on his desk.
+
+Minnie saw that he was busy, and though she would have liked to stay
+and cheer him up, she thought it better to retire, her request being
+granted.
+
+"He sees I am in earnest, anyhow," she observed to herself as she closed
+the door softly behind her, "and he sees too that we _are_ doing
+something. Oh, I _will_ be so glad if I can do anything to make it
+easier for him. These people try him so--I suppose they have been
+threatening another strike." And she went to bed, her head full of plans
+for getting further into the hearts of these rough miners, and drawing
+them to better things.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR.
+
+
+Meanwhile, Mona Cameron, who had no such philanthropic schemes to occupy
+her energies, was no less busy with schemes of an altogether different
+character. She was thoroughly roused by this time, by Minnie's utter
+impregnability to all established methods of provocation, so that she
+found herself obliged to invent new ones, which up to this time had been
+attended with no better success.
+
+She was not naturally malicious, nor did it afford her any sort of
+pleasure to rouse and anger Minnie as she so often did, neither did she
+dislike the girl herself; but circumstances had been too much for her in
+the beginning, and her nature was such that now it seemed to her almost
+impossible to change her policy and adopt any other line of conduct. She
+sometimes rebelled against the rivalry which, she considered, stood
+between them and any possibility of friendship, but was still firm in
+her belief, that it was a difficulty which could not be bridged, and the
+subject had not hitherto been considered by Minnie at all; she simply
+accepted it, as she did most other things, as it stood, and it had not
+yet occurred to her that it could or should be changed.
+
+One afternoon, Minnie stood at the outer door of the schoolroom
+waiting on Mabel coming down stairs from the music-room. There were
+perhaps a dozen girls inside, but she stood just where they could not
+observe her--at least, with the exception of Mona Cameron--who seemed
+much too intent upon her work to notice anything. At last, however, she
+appeared to have got over the part which demanded such urgent attention,
+and began to talk.
+
+"I say, girls!" She said in an animated tone, which instantly secured
+the attention of every one present, at the same time moving nearer the
+window for the purpose, as it seemed, of obtaining better light. "Have
+you heard the news?"
+
+"What news?" eagerly exclaimed a dozen voices.
+
+"Why, that Minnie Kimberly has turned Methodist."
+
+Minnie started, scarce knowing whether to leave immediately or return
+and proclaim her presence.
+
+"What?" cried the girls, not quite understanding what Mona meant to
+convey by that appellation.
+
+"Methodist," repeated Mona, quite enjoying their mystification. "One of
+those people who profess to go about continually doing good with tracts
+in their pocket--though it's my private opinion they usually contrive to
+do the very opposite. That's the sort of thing Minnie's going in for
+just now, though I really think she is a little ashamed of it, she keeps
+it so well hidden. You see my penetration was not at fault--I said it
+was revival meetings or something of that sort."
+
+Minnie turned, and with a firm step and fast beating heart walked back
+into the schoolroom.
+
+Mona did not seem to notice her but went on.
+
+"Yes, isn't it fun! Quite a romance I'm sure! A sort of juvenile Mrs.
+Fry or some person of that stamp, converting the heathen down in
+Hollowmell."
+
+"O, hush!" whispered some one, as Minnie walked straight into their
+midst, her eyes flashing, but her cheeks pale as marble.
+
+"I do not know what you may mean to insinuate by calling me Methodist as
+you did just now. It may either be that you intend it as a term of
+reproach to me, or as a mark of disrespect to the worthy body of people
+who bear that name--"
+
+"You hear her!" Interrupted Mona with a laugh, "you hear her defending
+them. Didn't I tell you so?"
+
+"I mean to say," continued Minnie, ignoring the interruption, "that if
+you mean by calling me Methodist that I profess to go about continually
+doing good, you are mistaken. Until now, I have not as you hinted, made
+any profession at all, but I am not ashamed to own that I consider it
+the noblest thing in life, to be good and to do good, and if by taking
+the name of Methodist I might the better attain that object I should be
+happy to do so."
+
+"Ah!" replied Mona with a sneer, as no one else spoke, "it is quite
+affecting I'm sure, to hear you say so. I should not be at all surprised
+if that good-looking Methodist Minister from Canningate, had something
+to do with these novel notions. I heard he had evinced great interest
+in the heathen of Hollowmell."
+
+Minnie's pale cheeks flushed with indignation, and for a moment she
+forgot everything but Mona's cruel insinuation.
+
+"It is certainly flattering to know you take such an interest in my
+proceedings," she began, angrily, then checking herself hastily, she
+continued in a softer tone: "I don't know why you should say such a
+thing of me, Mona. What I have done (and the motive I had for keeping it
+secret, was because it was so little), I have done from a simple wish to
+make my life of some use, and benefit my father's tenants."
+
+Mona smiled derisively but did not speak.
+
+"I do not fear to say I am a Christian," continued Minnie, turning to
+the other girls after a short pause. "Even in spite of Mona's sarcasm,
+and though I do often come short of what one bearing that name should
+be, I am not the less determined to persevere in my endeavours to make
+these failures as few and far between as possible; and that any one here
+will intentionally attempt to frustrate these efforts I cannot believe."
+
+"That is a challenge directed to me, I suppose," observed Mona laughing
+disagreeably.
+
+"For shame, Mona!" cried one of the girls with warmth. "Your sharpness
+is no match for Minnie's earnestness, I am sure all here think so!" and
+she turned to the rest for confirmation.
+
+"Yes, yes!" cried several voices enthusiastically.
+
+"And I, for one," continued the young lady who had spoken, "though I
+cannot give as good an account of myself, either in words or actions as
+Minnie can, would have no objection to doing some good too, and if she
+will accept my help, I shall be glad to render it such as it is."
+
+Minnie thanked her with tears in her eyes, and accepted her offer with
+simple gratitude, whereupon several of the others also volunteered their
+aid, and some who lived too far away to render actual assistance begged
+to know if there was no way in which they could help.
+
+Minnie had by this time explained the plan of working adopted by Mabel
+and herself, which was received with expressions of unmixed approval by
+all, with the exception of Mona, who sat silently during their
+conversation with her head bent over her work.
+
+Mabel appeared in the midst of their discussion, and was greatly
+surprised to learn the subject of it. She, however, entered heartily
+into the debate, and a plan was quickly sketched out whereby the eager
+desire displayed by all present to join in the work was to be satisfied.
+
+Mabel was all this while wondering how their doings at Hollowmell had
+come to be known among the girls, but no one explained, and even after
+Minnie and she were on their way home, Minnie spoke no word in
+explanation of this strange circumstance.
+
+On the following day, of course, she received a full account from one of
+those who had been present, and her love and respect for her friend
+increased tenfold on becoming acquainted with the part she had played on
+the occasion.
+
+"She is a true heroine," thought Mabel when left to herself again, "I
+don't understand how she can do things like that. I am sure if they were
+required of me I could not do them. Why is there such a difference
+between us? She seems to do everything so well, though she is just newly
+conscious that there are things like this to do, and I have been
+acquainted with the fact all my life. I am distracted by doubts and
+fears--I, who have known the reality of God's love and goodness so long,
+and she, who only a few weeks ago wakened up to that reality, is able to
+rest in it without question or misgiving. Ah! that is the difference, I
+only know of its existence, while she feels it--breathes it--lives in
+it."
+
+Just then her meditations were broken in upon by Minnie herself who ran
+in, exclaiming breathlessly, "O, I am so glad you're here early, I did
+so want to have a chat with you before the school commenced!"
+
+"All right," replied Mabel, who had been occupied during her reflections
+in slowly unlacing her boot. She now set about the task with right good
+will, and was soon ready; but Minnie was quicker, and was already in the
+inner room, depositing the books of both in their respective desks when
+Mabel came in. Minnie turned to address some remark to her on the
+subject of her dilatoriness, and then for the first time her eye was
+caught by a paper fastened upon the opposite wall with a pin. It was a
+large paper, and had notice printed in large capitals on the top.
+
+Beneath was written in Mona Cameron's beautiful writing the following
+advertisement:--
+
+     "_MISSION TO THE HEATHEN OF HOLLOWMELL._
+
+     "A meeting of Christian friends favourable to the above scheme will
+     be held in Hollowmell Hall, on the evening of Wednesday, the 22nd
+     inst.
+
+     "All Christians--(especially Methodists)--are invited to attend."
+
+Minnie's exclamation brought all the girls then in the room to the spot,
+and great was the indignation of those who had been witnesses of the
+scene on the preceding evening, but some who as yet knew nothing about
+it laughed and thought it rather clever.
+
+Minnie's first impulse was to tear down the obnoxious notice and burn it
+before them all, but fortunately her better sense prevailed, and after a
+momentary struggle with her angry feelings, and also with her keen
+personal distress, she looked up and read it aloud, omitting the
+objectionable parenthesis, and said with a smile to those who were in
+the secret:
+
+"It is a very good joke, I daresay, so we'll make it a true one," and
+then, with their permission, she told all about their proposed plan, and
+how Mona had laughed at it, and ended by inviting them all to attend the
+meeting advertised from so unexpected a quarter, in the Hollowmell Hall.
+"Only," she added, "we will hold it on Friday evening instead of
+Wednesday as Mona suggests--not considering, I apprehend, our onerous
+duties in the matter of lessons on that evening."
+
+The teachers entered the room at this juncture, and consequently the
+curiosity of many who had come in during Minnie's speech was left
+unsatisfied except for various disconnected whispers which were
+exchanged during the morning with such as were better acquainted with
+the matter, and these, it may be supposed, were not of the most
+satisfactory character.
+
+There was quite a sensation created in Minnie's favour when the girls
+were free again at the mid-day recess, and the whole story came out;
+Mona had to endure, as best she could, the spectacle of Minnie elevated
+to the pedestal of heroism, and finding herself all but sent to
+Coventry. As may be imagined, this state of affairs did not tend to
+soothe her already ruffled feelings, but rather the opposite, so that,
+by the time school was dismissed she was in no enviable frame of mind.
+
+She did not sit at her work chatting and laughing with the others who
+remained behind, long after school hours, but immediately left the
+schoolroom, and proceeded to don her hat and ulster in haste, lest any
+one should come out before she could leave. Just as she lifted her glove
+she noticed something white on a table in one corner, and
+notwithstanding her haste she was moved by a strong desire to go over
+and look at it. It turned out to be a heap of manuscript.
+
+"Why, it's Minnie Kimberly's," she said to herself. "Her Latin
+translation for the examination! just like her to leave it about in this
+manner!" she ran her eye over several lines.
+
+"How beautiful!" she exclaimed, under her breath, "I could do nothing
+like it if I tried a hundred years. I am not afraid of her in anything
+else, but if she sends this, I may give up hope."
+
+Then a strong temptation seized her to hide the manuscript, and so not
+only be revenged on Minnie for her humiliation, but also secure the
+certainty of her success in the examination.
+
+"Why should she have everything?" she asked petulantly, "Is it not
+enough for her that she has sweet temper, and popularity,
+and--Christianity," and her lip did not curl at the word now that she
+was alone as it certainly would have done had there been others by. An
+expression of deep pain came into her beautiful face, and putting down
+the manuscript where she had found it, she laid her head on the dusty
+table and something like a sigh escaped her.
+
+"No!" she said, in her excitement speaking aloud. "Minnie _shall_ have
+the prize. She deserves it as she does all the gifts my selfish heart so
+wickedly envies her; we may not be friends, but at least we can be fair
+rivals."
+
+A step was heard in the room, and without looking round to ascertain
+whose it might be, Mona snatched up her gloves and disappeared.
+
+Minnie, for it was she, stood staring in a dazed sort of way at the
+place where Mona had been, not a moment before, in such an attitude of
+dejection as no one had ever believed her capable of yielding to, and
+thoroughly mystified by her last words which had reached her ears. All
+at once she noticed the paper on the table, and recognised it at once
+as her Latin translation.
+
+"So that was it," she soliloquised. "Poor girl, she isn't happy, I am
+afraid. I wish we could be friends. Mab and I would soon manage to get
+her into a more cheerful frame of mind. If she would only join the
+Mission, she was the unintentional means of forming, she would find a
+great deal more satisfaction in her life. However, she need not be
+afraid of this," and she touched the pages of her work lovingly. "I
+don't think I will send it after all."
+
+The meeting, so strangely convened, was held as agreed, and was
+numerously attended by those young ladies who lived within a convenient
+distance. Many who did not, sent letters expressing regret for the same,
+and sympathy for their object, some also sending subscriptions, and
+offering any other kind of aid it might be in their power to bestow.
+
+This was all very encouraging, and the girls in a flutter of delighted
+excitement formed themselves into a society which was to be known to
+future generations as the "Hollowmell Mission." There was a great deal
+of laughing, and talking, and fun, many of them looking on it as a new,
+and accordingly, agreeable source of amusement, but there was also a
+great deal of simple, unaffected earnestness which kept the work alive
+when these butterfly supporters, who hailed it as a new excitement,
+wearied of it and one by one dropped off.
+
+The company was divided into committees who presided over the different
+branches of the work, and were, moreover, charged with the conduct of
+the Saturday evening entertainments, over which each committee presided
+in rotation, thus relieving Mabel and Minnie of a great deal of labour,
+and leaving them free to apply themselves to the extension of the work.
+
+Prizes of various descriptions were offered, the competition lists being
+open to all. At first these were entirely in connection with work which
+could be shown out-doors, as the girls did not consider themselves
+warranted to go any further at present. The competition for the
+best-kept garden has already been mentioned. Another was shortly
+announced for the best-cleaned and tidiest windows. Many of the gates
+and little wooden railings which separated the different plots of ground
+were in very bad repair, the paint being in many cases completely rubbed
+off, and the wood-work broken. At Minnie's request these places were
+mended, and Mr. Kimberly himself, who began to be quite interested in
+the work, supplied a certain quantity of paint to every house, while the
+young ladies offered a prize for its most successful use.
+
+Although there were children in almost every house in the hollow, there
+were two or three where there were not any, and some also where the
+children were too young for work of this kind. These were consequently
+alloted to any who should volunteer their services for the purpose. Some
+one proposed that this competition should be open to boys alone, but
+Minnie stood up bravely for the girls, declaring that they could do this
+kind of work as well as the boys, and should not be shut out from it, as
+the boys had not been shut out from the window-cleaning.
+
+This was considered only fair, and it was also thrown open to all who
+cared to compete.
+
+But though the young reformers did not think it right to go further than
+the outsides of the cottages in their endeavours after improvement,
+their influence began to assert itself within also. They were so young
+themselves that they considered it would be an arrogant and presumptuous
+proceeding on their part to attempt anything that would look like
+dictation, or interference, and might materially injure their work in
+directions wherein it had been successful heretofore. They contented
+themselves therefore with working among the young people, relying on the
+natural development of that work, and were encouraged to find, that such
+reliance was by no means misplaced, for, besides the improvements
+effected by the youthful competitors in the outward appearance of the
+cottages, a further improvement was observable in the comparative
+absence of drunken men and untidy women.
+
+The entertainments on Saturday afternoons had also somewhat changed in
+their nature by this time. The social element was still preserved, but
+instead of the riotous fun and hilarity of the opening meeting, a
+quieter mode now prevailed. After tea, there was usually a game, then
+all sat down, and the girls drew forth their sewing with which they
+proceeded while the boys sat quietly in their places, all listening
+eagerly to some entertaining book read by one of the young ladies till
+about half-an-hour before the usual hour for dispersion which was given
+up to general conversation, and the singing of a few hymns.
+
+One night, during this half-hour, one of the young ladies, Agnes Summers
+by name, the same Agnes who had defended Minnie on a former occasion,
+began to wonder if there was nothing the boys could do while the reading
+was going on.
+
+Nobody could suggest anything at first, but at length one boy
+volunteered the information that he could knit; other two professed the
+same accomplishment, and, encouraged by this example, several voices
+expressed their willingness to learn.
+
+"The very thing!" exclaimed Mabel, "we might have thought of that
+sooner."
+
+"O, but," objected Minnie, "wouldn't it be too ridiculous to see boys
+sitting knitting."
+
+"Not at all," asserted Mabel. "I once knew a family of Germans, rich
+people too, who had all their knitting done by the young men, and anyhow
+it won't matter if it is ridiculous, it's useful, and nobody will laugh
+when they remember that. I thought at first it would have been rather
+ridiculous to see the girls painting the gates and palings, but it
+turned out quite the opposite. It is wonderful how earnestness
+beautifies the most commonplace things, and reconciles us to the most
+incongruous."
+
+"Well, I see you are right, and I suppose I must give in," answered
+Minnie, "We can give it a trial at any rate, though it will justify its
+existence, in my eyes, I am afraid, only by its success, as papa said
+our undertaking had in his,--oh, that's a dreadfully narrow way to look
+at it, no, I'll give the plan my unqualified support."
+
+"That's more like you," said Mabel, smiling at her impulsive
+afterthought, "it isn't your way to be half-hearted in anything. Now,
+I'll tell you what I propose should be done about this. We must supply
+ourselves with a quantity of worsted, and a sufficient number of
+knitting-needles, and set all the boys at once to knit stockings and
+socks for their own winter wear. I propose that they shall, every pair
+as it is finished, be put into a box with the maker's name attached to
+it, and be kept there for distribution in the cold weather."
+
+This motion meeting with general approval, was forthwith adopted, and
+the conversation for that evening ended. The boys, as a rule, were
+greatly delighted with the proposed change, for they did not find it by
+any means an easy matter to sit quite still, doing nothing, even while
+listening to the most interesting story, and thus it promised to be a
+comfortable, as well as a useful arrangement all round.
+
+That night as Mabel was locking the door preparatory to going home, she
+noticed a little boy who usually attended the Saturday evening meeting,
+but who had that night been absent, waiting outside the gate. As soon as
+he saw her come out, he ran up the path, and eagerly caught by her
+dress, begging her to come to his mother.
+
+She inquired what the matter was, but he could do nothing but sob and
+cry to her to make haste. She hesitated for a moment. She was already
+later than usual and the night was rather stormy, but the little
+creature's distress moved her to go with him.
+
+He led her into one of the cottages where, in the kitchen, lay a woman
+evidently in the last stage of consumption. The house was in a terrible
+state of disorder, having, apparently, never been touched since its
+mistress lay down, which Mabel learned was about three weeks ago.
+
+Her husband was away at the pit, she said, and the little boy who had
+brought Mabel was her eldest child. An infant of about four months old
+slept beside her, and two other children of about two and three years of
+age respectively sprawled on the floor, screaming with all the strength
+of their united lungs.
+
+After speaking for a few minutes to the poor woman, Mabel decided that
+she could do nothing until the noise was stopped, and after many
+unsuccessful efforts, at last had the satisfaction of seeing the two
+drop off to sleep, thoroughly exhausted with crying. She then turned her
+attention to the sick woman, whom she found to be in a very weak state
+indeed. She told Mabel that the doctor had visited her that morning, and
+had thought it his duty to tell her that she had only a very few days
+more to live.
+
+Mabel hardly knew what to do, or what to say, but at last suggested,
+that perhaps she would like to see Mr. Chadwell or the missionary, as
+she gathered from her conversation that she was in great spiritual
+distress.
+
+"Oh, no," sighed the poor creature, "I daren't have any of them here.
+The missionary was here once, and it was the words he spoke that first
+set me thinking. He left me a book too, that was full of good things,
+but my husband burned it when he came home, and the priest said if he
+ever came here again my eyes would never look on the blessed Virgin."
+She was stopped by a hollow cough that completely racked her wasted
+frame, and then went on in a faint voice:
+
+"I couldn't rest, though, and the priest did not give me any comfort.
+Then I heard Willie there tell what the kind young ladies said about
+going to Heaven directly we die, and never a word of purgatory, and I
+thought maybe one of you could tell me something to ease my heart."
+
+"What can I do?" Asked Mabel of herself--"What can I say? My heart seems
+frozen, and my lips powerless to tell her what she is dying to hear. How
+can I tell her what I have never experienced? How can I comfort her with
+words that have never comforted me?"
+
+She laid her head down on the torn coverlet, and prayed for strength and
+wisdom--but no strength--no wisdom seemed to come--the Heavens seemed as
+brass above her--she felt nothing but a dreary blank.
+
+And yet the woman was dying, she must do something.
+
+For a brief moment--like a flash--she pictured herself in the dying
+woman's place, and felt the horror of being there without hope. With a
+convulsive shudder she rose and sitting down by the bedside, she took
+the woman's thin wasted hand in hers, and asked her if indeed she had no
+hope.
+
+"Hope!" she repeated. "I read in that book--he called it the word of
+God--that the wages of sin is death. The priest said it was only
+purgatory, but I know more than he thinks I do--and I know what death
+that means--No, I have no hope. I know what a sinner I have been, and I
+know what the wages of sin are."
+
+"But," said Mabel, gently, "we are all sinners. We cannot--even the best
+of us--hope for anything but the wages of sin, except through the death
+of Christ, who died to save sinners--even the chief."
+
+"O, you know nothing of sin," said the woman in an agonised voice. "Here
+it has not been so bad, but if you had seen the place we came from you
+might know something of it." And the remembrance seemed to completely
+overcome her, for she lay moaning and crying in a perfect agony of
+despair.
+
+Mabel talked and argued, but felt she was not making any impression.
+Finally she rose and said, speaking in a hurried whisper, "I spoke to
+you of hope--of hope that I myself know not. I am in as great darkness
+as you, and therefore I cannot give you the help you need."
+
+The woman stared at the girl in a strange, uncomprehending sort of way,
+but she was by this time too weak to make any comment.
+
+"But," continued Mabel, "I know of one who has _felt_ the power of
+salvation, may I bring her to you?"
+
+She nodded assent, and Mabel hastened away.
+
+It was now nearly ten o'clock, but she felt that the patient would not
+see the light of day, and that every consideration must give way before
+the desperate nature of this case. She almost felt inclined to fetch Mr.
+Chadwell, instead of disturbing Minnie at this unseasonable hour, but
+feared it might have a fatal effect on the dying woman.
+
+She quietly tapped at the back door, fearing to alarm the family by
+ringing, and asked to speak to Minnie privately. Minnie took her into
+her own room, where she related the circumstance in a few hurried words.
+
+As soon as she had taken in the meaning of Mabel's words she ran off
+without uttering a word, to beg her father's permission to undertake
+this errand of mercy. He was very reluctant, naturally, but at last
+yielded, on condition that she could get one of her brothers to
+accompany her.
+
+They were all in the parlour, from which apartment the sounds of their
+laughter and merriment proceeded, as Minnie opened the door rather
+hesitatingly, and asked Charlie to come out and speak to her a moment.
+
+"Why can't you come in here and speak to me?" He asked, "I feel so
+comfortable, I don't care about moving."
+
+"Oh, do come quickly!" entreated Minnie. "You don't know what may be the
+consequence of a minute's delay."
+
+Charlie rose, a good deal surprised, and the others enquired rather
+anxiously if there was anything wrong, she looked so terribly in
+earnest.
+
+She hastily assured them that it was nothing wrong at home, and drawing
+Charlie into the hall, told him what she wished to do, and begged him to
+accompany her, forgetting in her eagerness the dread of his ridicule,
+which at any other time would have overpowered her.
+
+"Nonsense," he said when he had heard her out, "I really thought you had
+more common sense, Minnie, than to bother your head with things of that
+description. Are there not enough fanatics _paid_ for doing these
+things? The girl must be a fool, and has no business to be out at this
+hour alone. Her people must be crazy too, to allow it."
+
+"Oh, Charlie!" exclaimed Minnie, wringing her hands in her distress.
+"_Do_, please come. You can't think how much it may mean. Think if _you_
+were dying, and had no one to say a kind word!--Think if it was _me_!
+And this woman's soul is as immortal and as precious as yours or mine."
+
+He looked at her a moment, as if he had fallen into a dream, and then
+without a word, took down his coat, and bidding her wrap well up,
+prepared to accompany her.
+
+She flew upstairs again, and hastily threw a large shawl round her,
+insisting at the same time on Mabel enveloping herself in another of
+similar magnitude, and in about three minutes, the two girls were down
+in the hall, where they found Charlie awaiting them.
+
+They set off at once, walking rapidly, towards Hollowmell, and only
+stopping for a few minutes, while Charlie left a message at Dr. Merton's
+directing him to follow them there.
+
+They found the poor woman in a state of utter prostration, but she
+revived a little upon the administration of some cordial, which Charlie
+had had the forethought to slip into his pocket before coming out. She
+seemed to be worn out by mental, rather than by physical suffering, but
+Charlie would allow no word to be spoken to her, until the arrival of
+Dr. Merton, which took place in a very short time after they reached the
+cottage.
+
+He gave it as his opinion, that she could not live many hours at most,
+and that if anything could be done to ease her suffering, which was
+altogether the effect of mental distress, most certainly it should be
+done.
+
+He could do no good, so he took his departure, having other cases to see
+to, and Charlie withdrew to the fire at the other end of the apartment,
+leaving Mabel and Minnie to administer whatever remedy it might be in
+their power to offer.
+
+Minnie immediately approached the dying woman, and finding her conscious
+bent over her, whispering softly in her ear. "God so loved the world,
+that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him
+might not perish, but have everlasting life."
+
+She started up at the words, but her strength was not sufficient,
+murmuring to herself, "Not for me, oh, not for me."
+
+"Yes, for you," said Minnie with a quiet confidence in her tone that
+carried with it a visible influence. "For every one who believes. Jesus
+came to call, not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. He is
+calling you now. Won't you answer?"
+
+"I can't, I can't. How can I who have never spoken his name except to
+profane it!"
+
+"But God will forgive all that for His Son's sake. Don't you know that
+Jesus died that God might be able to forgive us all our sins?"
+
+"I know nothing but that I am a sinner, and the wages of sin is death,"
+she moaned in a voice that was momentarily getting weaker.
+
+"But the gift of God is eternal life," added Minnie turning to the
+place in her Testament which she had brought. "See, those are the words
+that follow, you can read them for yourself."
+
+She took the book and spelt out the words by the light of the candle
+which Minnie held up for her.
+
+"You see," continued she, "the one is what you have earned what you must
+get if you persist in standing on your own merits--the other is a gift.
+We get wages as we deserve them, but a gift has nothing to do with
+deserving. God gives us eternal life, not because we are worthy, but
+because Christ, our Saviour, has asked it for us--has earned it for us.
+It is _His_ wages--the price of _His_ work. All we have got to do is to
+take it and trust Him for the rest."
+
+There was nothing wonderful in the words Minnie used, they were at times
+a little disconnected, but they came straight from her heart with such
+evident conviction of their truth that they struck her hearers with a
+force that astonished them.
+
+"Trust Him for the rest," repeated the dying woman. "Trust Him for the
+rest. Yes I will. You trust Him, I see that, and why should not I? I
+don't understand it quite yet, but He has said it, and I _will_ believe
+it."
+
+After that she lay still for a long time, neither moving nor speaking,
+and scarcely seeming to breathe.
+
+"Mabel," whispered Minnie, "I think we may leave her now. She seems at
+peace. I'll run in to Molly Gray's, and ask her to stay here with her
+during the night. Molly lives all alone since her father died, so it
+won't disturb any one."
+
+"No need," said a voice behind her in a gruff whisper that startled her,
+"I'll stay with her myself."
+
+She turned round and found herself face to face with the woman's
+husband, who had returned from the pit, and entering without their
+knowledge, had been a silent spectator of the scene.
+
+"Pat!" cried the dying woman joyfully, as she heard his voice, "Oh, Pat,
+I am so glad you've come back in time to see me die in peace. You see I
+_can_ die in peace, and you need not mind the money you promised to save
+for masses. I won't need any, for I am going straight to my Saviour.
+He's waiting for me in Heaven, and He's here beside me now, and He'll be
+with me all the way. Oh, miss, pray for my husband and my children that
+they may come to know such joy as this!"
+
+Minnie knelt down beside the bed, and involuntarily they all followed
+her example--the great, strong Irishman kneeling at the head beside his
+wife, her thin, white hands clasped in his rough brown ones. For some
+minutes the silence remained unbroken, and then Minnie's clear, sweet
+voice rose in earnest, supplicating tones for this family so soon to be
+bereaved.
+
+Her prayer was short and simple, but it went straight to the hearts of
+her few listeners, touching and softening them with its heart-felt
+pathos, so that when they rose there were tears on every cheek, and even
+that of Charlie was not dry.
+
+Directly after the visitors prepared to depart, Minnie promising to come
+down as early as possible the next morning. As they passed out, after a
+few more parting words with the newly-born Christian, whom they were not
+likely to see again alive, Patrick Malone laid his hand on Minnie's arm
+to stay her, saying, "Won't you leave that with her?" pointing to the
+Testament.
+
+"Gladly," replied Minnie, as she put it into his hand, then hurriedly
+taking it again she found and turned down the page at the fourteenth
+chapter of St. John, and directed him to read that to her.
+
+"I will," he said, "and I'll give you the book to-morrow when--" but his
+emotion choked him and he could not proceed.
+
+"Never mind," said Minnie, "Keep it for my sake and hers."
+
+He thanked and blessed her again and again, and declared he would never
+part with it till the last day of his life, though the priest burned him
+for it, and then Minnie ran out to find Charlie and Mabel waiting for
+her in the rain.
+
+They did not speak at all, till they reached the Kimberly's home, when
+Charlie said he would see Mabel home, and explain the cause of her
+absence to her friends, and Minnie bade her friend good-night with a
+very tired but happy face. Charlie came up the steps to open the door to
+her with his latch-key, and as she went in he stopped suddenly and
+kissed her on the forehead and then was gone.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Minnie did not sleep till she heard him come in softly and go into his
+room, and even after that she lay for hours thinking of all she had seen
+that night and rejoicing with the angels over the sinner who had
+during its early watches returned to her Saviour's arms.
+
+Mabel, too, lay long awake that night, but her thoughts were very
+different from Minnie's. She was pondering over the spectacle of a soul
+entering into that peace from which she felt herself by some mysterious
+means shut out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A DISPUTE SETTLED.
+
+
+Next morning Minnie was down at Hollowmell before any one in that region
+was stirring. She had carried down with her a basket filled with
+provisions, feeling sure that under the sorrowful circumstances it would
+be required. She found, as she had expected, that Mrs. Malone was dead.
+She died at about four o'clock in the morning, her husband informed
+Minnie, and her last words had been the words he had been reading to her
+from the fourteenth chapter of John, "Let not your heart be troubled,
+neither let it be afraid."
+
+He was sitting beside the remains of his wife with the book in his hand,
+as if he had never moved since the moment of her death, when Minnie
+entered.
+
+He had really loved his wife with all the fervour of his passionate
+Irish nature, and the remembrance that but for his intemperance, and his
+cruelty to her, when under the influence of drink, she might have still
+been alive and happy, had overcome him to such an extent that he had
+fallen into a half unconscious state, and did not seem to be able to
+realise anything except that she would speak to him no more.
+
+Minnie could not wait then, so she ran into another cottage a little way
+further on, the door of which was already open, and finding the object
+of her search (Molly Gray) engaged in the preparation of her own
+breakfast, she told her of the calamity which had befallen the Malones,
+and begged her to go in and help them.
+
+Molly only waited to refill her kettle that she might find it ready for
+any emergency, and carrying her own tea with her in a can wherewith to
+refresh the worn-out watcher, she at once repaired to the bereaved home.
+
+Greatly relieved to be able to leave them under efficient care, Minnie
+hastened home, having first seen the grief-stricken husband swallow some
+tea, and a few mouthsful of bread, but she had no appetite for her own
+breakfast, though she made a pretence of eating to escape comment, and
+rose to prepare for church without having tasted a morsel.
+
+None knew of her last night's visit except her father and Charlie, and
+as her father did not mention it and Charlie had not yet appeared, she
+was not annoyed with the questions and expressions of wonder which she
+had hardly hoped to elude. Mabel was not at church, neither was she at
+school next day, an excuse being sent for her absence, stating that she
+was confined to the house with a slight attack of influenza. Minnie's
+excitement of Saturday night, thus augmented by anxiety on her friend's
+behalf, now began to tell upon her, so much, indeed, that before the
+work of the school was over, every one observed its effect in her
+heightened colour, and the unnatural brightness of her eyes round which
+dark circles had formed. They all attributed it to Mabel's illness and
+did not think it necessary to enquire into the cause of her apparent
+feverishness, so that she got away from school also without being
+embarrassed by troublesome explanations.
+
+She went straight from school to Mabel's, running all the way in her
+anxious haste. The fresh wind and the exertion of running had a
+beneficial effect upon her, both physically and mentally, for by the
+time she arrived at Mr. Chartres' door, the feverish flush was replaced
+by a healthy glow, and the strange, indefinable feeling of restlessness
+which had all day possessed her, seemed to have been swept away by the
+breath of the wind.
+
+Mabel was still in bed, her aunt informed Minnie, though in her opinion,
+she was considerably better, and requested her to go up herself to
+Mabel's bedroom.
+
+Minnie needed no second invitation, but immediately flew upstairs, and
+opening the door softly, peeped in before she entered. She was lying
+with her eyes closed, but the opening of the door, quietly though it was
+done, caused her to unclose them again just as Minnie looked in. She
+looked very pale and exhausted, but brightened up wonderfully under the
+influence of Minnie's cheerfulness, and was altogether so much better by
+the time for her departure, that she felt persuaded she would be able to
+attend school again on the morrow.
+
+"That notion about influenza, you know," she remarked confidentially to
+Minnie, "was nothing more than a delusion on aunt's part. I have really
+no more influenza than she as herself, but she must have some reason for
+my being ill, and there would be no use contradicting her, unless I
+could supply a reason myself, which I can't. I thought it just as well
+to let it be influenza as anything else."
+
+Minnie agreed that perhaps it was, and conjuring her to "shake herself
+up" and be out to-morrow, departed.
+
+That night, after tea she was sitting in the parlour with her two
+brothers, Archie and Seymour, the one of whom, Seymour, was older than
+she, and the other, Archie, a year younger.
+
+"I say, Min," began Archie, "aren't you going to tell us what the row
+was on Saturday night? What mysterious traffic is going on between you
+and Charlie? I was teasing him to tell me yesterday, but he was as
+silent as the Sphinx."
+
+"And what if I intend to be as silent as that famous monument also?"
+Asked Minnie.
+
+"O, come now!" Replied he, in a coaxing tone, "you couldn't, you know,
+you're just dying to tell, as much as I am to hear what before-unheard
+of circumstance induced him to turn out on a Saturday night, and a wet
+and stormy one too."
+
+"Am I?" She asked, looking at him with a provokingly doubtful
+expression, but feeling rather nervous all the time. "Then I must
+congratulate you on being a great deal better acquainted with my state
+of mind than I am myself. I don't know how it is, but for my own part, I
+confess that I cannot find any indication of such a condition as you
+describe."
+
+Here Seymour looked up.
+
+"I think," he remarked, quietly. "That I might give you a _little_
+further information on the subject, since you seem so very much
+interested in it. Minnie was along with Charlie on Saturday night, on
+his interesting errand, and also Miss Chartres."
+
+Archie gave a low whistle of surprise, and stared at Seymour, as though
+expecting him to say more, but if such was his expectation, he was
+doomed to disappointment, for Seymour having delivered in these few
+words the full extent of his information on the topic under discussion,
+closed his lips and turned his attention to his book again.
+
+Minnie looked distressed, but Archie did not notice it in his
+astonishment and eagerness to know more about this mysterious
+proceeding.
+
+"Is it true, Minnie?" he demanded. "Seymour, who told you that?--I
+declare I don't believe a word of it."
+
+"Edward Laurence told me," replied Seymour, without looking up. "His
+mother was down there at Hollowmell yesterday, and came home full of it.
+I did not know before to-day that I had a saint for a sister; and as for
+not believing it, if you don't, just look at her and you soon will."
+
+And sure enough her face was dyed with a hot flush that mounted even as
+he spoke to the roots of her hair, though he could only have been
+instinctively aware of her confusion, for his head was still bent over
+his book.
+
+Archie looked from the one to the other in open-mouthed astonishment for
+a minute or two, and then it dawned upon him that Minnie looked, to say
+the least of it, uncomfortable, and stifling his curiosity, which was by
+this time greater than ever, as best he could, suddenly relapsed into
+silence.
+
+Soon afterwards Seymour left the room, and Minnie resolved to seize this
+opportunity of telling Archie the real facts of the case.
+
+"It was so kind of you," she commenced rather confusedly, "to help me as
+you did just now. I could not tell you about it while Seymour was here,
+for you know very well how he laughs at religion, and says it is all
+done for show, and that there is no heart in it at all. I don't mean
+that I should have told you if Seymour had not been here, for I wouldn't
+have mentioned it if he had not--"
+
+"Never mind about that," interrupted Archie, impatiently, "proceed with
+the story--or," he hastily interrupted himself, "not if it bothers you
+to talk about it. I don't mind much, you know."
+
+Minnie smiled, knowing well how much he did mind, and assured him that
+it would not bother her at all to tell him, as she knew he would listen
+patiently, and not ridicule anything she might say.
+
+She then proceeded to tell him in as few words as possible, what had
+taken place at Hollowmell on Saturday night, and how it came about that
+Mabel happened to be there at such a late hour.
+
+"Why," exclaimed Archie, when he had listened with an interest, which
+surprised himself as entirely as it surprised Minnie; for though of an
+unusually curious disposition, he invariably found his interest flag
+after drinking in the first few details of anything. "Why, if you aren't
+a party of complete 'bricks--' Seymour called you a saint, but I say a
+'brick,' and if you aren't content with that, I don't know what _will_
+content you." And he stared at her with an expression of intense
+approval that was irresistible.
+
+"But what I want to know is this," he continued in a tone of
+confidential deliberation, when her amusement had subsided. "However did
+you manage to get Charlie into such a pie? He and Seymour go together in
+these affairs; I should have considered Ned a more suitable subject for
+a purpose of that kind."
+
+"O, I hadn't time to think, I suppose, I was in too great a hurry to get
+away--and besides I wasn't sure whether Ned was in or not. I'm glad now
+it was Charlie, for I don't think he'll look on these things with the
+same eyes now, as he used to, after what he saw of their value and
+necessity when nothing else could avail."
+
+"Ah, well, I don't know much about it myself, but I suppose we must
+attend to them some time, though there's no particular hurry at present
+for any of _us_ that I can see."
+
+"Oh, but there is!" cried Minnie anxiously, "don't you see that the end
+may come any day, and that though we are young, we haven't any guarantee
+that we will live even one day more--there are so many ways we may die,
+and just consider that one of them might overtake us within an hour."
+
+"O, yes, of course, it _might_," was his light reply, "but that's very
+unlikely. It's a rather dull sort of subject this--I think I'll run
+round to Jack Durnard's for a map I lent him yesterday."
+
+He walked out unconcernedly, and Minnie made no effort to stop him,
+knowing how useless further remonstrance on this point would be.
+
+Next day Mabel was allowed to come to school, greatly to Minnie's
+delight, and was not worse on that account contrary to her aunt's
+confident expectation, indeed the life and activity with which she found
+herself surrounded there, and into which she was ere long sucked, seemed
+to raise and disperse the cloud of depression which had enveloped her,
+so that in a few days she was her old self again.
+
+The examination in which Mona and Minnie were to take part, was now
+drawing near, and both were very hard at work in consequence. Minnie,
+who never did anything by halves, wrought with all her energy, and
+denied herself the pleasure of being at Hollowmell as often as usual,
+that she might keep herself in right working order.
+
+Not that she hoped to stand first on the list, for that hope she had
+abandoned when she resolved to keep back her Latin translation, but
+there were candidates from other schools in the neighbourhood, and the
+honour of the school was as much a consideration with her as any
+individual honour could be.
+
+They were both too busy just at that time to indulge in any of their
+usual skirmishes, even if they had been particularly inclined, which,
+singularly enough, neither happened to be. Mona, to do her justice, had
+not, since the day on which she had been so ignominiously defeated about
+the Hollowmell scheme, troubled Minnie with any of her ordinary most
+provoking remarks; she held aloof, it is true, in a way which many
+considered to bode no good to their future peace when she would once
+more be at liberty to resume her attacks.
+
+In this, however, they were mistaken, for matters remained "in statu
+quo" after the examination was over, and the school had fallen into its
+usual routine again.
+
+There was a good deal of speculation as to which would stand highest,
+but as it would be some time before the result could be communicated,
+these speculations were soon allowed to die away, and be replaced by
+objects of more immediate interest.
+
+About this time the girls were making preparations for a grand floral
+demonstration which was to take place at the end of June, for their work
+had been going on now for four months. It was still almost a month till
+then, but the hearts of these youthful missionaries were already growing
+troubled as they contemplated the ambitious nature of their undertaking,
+when an incident occurred which, not in itself having any connection
+with their project, yet grew into a solution of their difficulty, or
+rather out of it grew the solution.
+
+They had thought of asking the parents and friends of the boys and girls
+to be present and share in the festivity, but found that their limited
+space forbade the carrying into effect of this amiable project. They
+were very loath to abandon it, however, as at that time there was great
+discontent among the miners, and indeed a strike was threatened.
+
+They were not vain enough to imagine that the result of this scheme
+would be to avert the impending catastrophe, but they had such faith in
+the soothing effect of good-natured social intercourse with them, and a
+display of real and unaffected interest in them and all concerning them,
+that they hoped at least to lessen in some degree the spirit of
+disaffection that pervaded the district.
+
+Some one suggested that they should hire a hall which stood at that end
+of the town, erected for temperance purposes but seldom used, and this
+suggestion, being favourably received, would have been carried out at
+once, but for the unfortunate reason that the hall was engaged for every
+Saturday up to that time and several weeks beyond it for meetings of the
+miners.
+
+There was no other place at all suitable to be had, and so they found
+their good intentions frustrated at the very outset.
+
+"I am afraid we shall have to give it up," sighed Bessie Raynor, one of
+the most energetic and indomitable among them in the pursuit of anything
+on which she had set her heart; and on the carrying out of this scheme
+she _had_ set her heart, as its success involved a private one of her
+own.
+
+Her father was also a coal-master like Minnie's, but his works were in
+quite a different part of the country so that they were inaccessible to
+her at present. They had a house there, though, just outside the little
+mining village, and there they usually removed during the Summer months.
+Fired by Minnie's example, Bessie had formed the resolution of
+initiating something of the same kind among her father's work-people
+when she should be among them again in a few weeks' time at most;
+accordingly, she was anxious to acquire as much experience as possible
+in the different sections of the work set on foot by the "Hollowmell
+Mission," and their varied results.
+
+The case was felt to be hopeless indeed when Bessie gave in, and as
+nothing further could be done, and no fresh idea was promulgated, the
+meeting separated with the intention of giving the matter a careful
+re-consideration in case any solution might present itself hitherto
+unthought of.
+
+Minnie was in very low spirits indeed, for her father was looking more
+care-worn and troubled every day, and was even now away attending one of
+those meetings from which he usually returned only to shut himself up in
+his study without seeing or speaking to any one.
+
+Mabel was not out that day, she was naturally rather delicate, and had
+drooped very much of late, indeed, she had not been right since the
+night of Mrs. Malone's death, and this added a new cause for anxiety to
+Minnie's already troubled mind.
+
+She walked slowly home trying to think of a way of bringing their plan
+to a successful issue, and so doing something, at least, towards the
+diffusion of a better spirit among the people. She could not bear the
+thought of being idle while there was a vague possibility of the
+slightest improvement being made in the present aspect of affairs. But
+her brain seemed willing to turn to anything but that, and she found
+herself as far off as ever from any settlement by the time she reached
+home.
+
+Her father had not yet returned, and the boys were out, so she sat down
+in the window to await their arrival. She had fallen into a sort of
+dream, and was performing all sorts of impossible feats before an
+admiring audience, composed for the most part of miners, but among whom
+she could distinguish the faces of her father, Mabel, Charlie, and a
+certain Mr. Laurence, the identical good-looking Methodist minister to
+whom Mona Cameron had on one occasion alluded.
+
+Strangely enough, or rather, not strangely at all, for what impossible
+thing is not possible in a dream, Mona was her fellow-actor in this
+vision, and the two were in the midst of some wonderful acrobatic
+display, when they happened to touch each other and the result was a
+sudden "phiz," not a moral "phiz," such as the pupils of Miss Marsden's
+school were in the habit of witnessing, but a real, or rather what
+seemed to her a real chemical "phiz" in which both were involved, and
+without much surprise she beheld herself seethe and bubble "just like
+lemonade," as she afterwards described it, and finally vanish into
+viewless vapour.
+
+Just at that moment a sharp report in her ear caused her to start and
+wake, and there, sure enough, was her father in the act of drawing the
+cork of a lemonade bottle, while Archie poured out the contents of
+another, which must by some mysterious means or other have got into her
+dream.
+
+"Well, sleepyhead!" exclaimed Archie, "did you condescend to wake at
+last? Do you know how long you have been sleeping?"
+
+Minnie looked round in half-awakened surprise.
+
+The curtains were drawn, the gas-jets lit, and the supper on the table,
+nearly finished too.
+
+"Why did you allow me to sleep so long?" asked Minnie in rather an
+injured tone.
+
+"As to that," replied Archie, "I'd have wakened you fast enough--you
+know my usual accommodating spirit--but papa would not hear of it."
+
+"And really you did look so uncommonly tired," added Ned, "that we all
+thought it a charity to let you go on. I hope it was a pleasant
+dream--you seemed to do a great deal of talking during it."
+
+Minnie laughed, and taking her seat at the table proceeded to entertain
+them with an account of it, and its absurd termination, which was
+received with shouts of laughter, and Minnie was glad to observe that
+her father joined them in their merriment without the appearance of
+force or strain, which she had noticed on similar occasions during the
+last few weeks.
+
+"But what put the miners in your head?" He enquired curiously, when they
+were at last sober again.
+
+"I suppose it must have been with hearing so much about them for some
+time back, and we were talking about them down in the Hollow this
+afternoon. I knew you were trying to satisfy them, and I was bothering
+myself because I could do nothing when things were going wrong."
+
+"Well, if all that was on your mind, I hardly wonder at your dreaming of
+miners," remarked Mr. Kimberly smiling.
+
+"And highly complimented the miners may think themselves," put in
+Archie.
+
+"Well, as it turns out," continued Mr. Kimberly, "you needn't have
+worried yourself quite so much about your inability, seeing you have
+already accomplished a very great deal--you and your young friends who
+help you."
+
+"How?" exclaimed Minnie, eagerly, "we seem to be able to do nothing just
+now--the only time we could do any real good--"
+
+"Never mind that at the present moment," interrupted Archie, "let us
+hear papa's story."
+
+"Then you must know in the first place that the discontent among the
+miners is stirred up by a few men who, not content with bringing poverty
+and hardship upon themselves, seek to draw others into it also, and seem
+never to be so happy as when raising strife of one kind or another. I
+know that the most of my men, are perfectly well aware that they receive
+good wages for their work, and would be content enough if it were not
+for these vampires--for they seem liker that than anything else. Though
+I have been at many of their meetings I have never had an opportunity of
+speaking until to-day, and you may be sure I made the most of it, laying
+before them a plain statement of the case, and asking them if, in their
+hearts, they did not endorse every word of it.
+
+"I may as well say that I had very little faith in anything resulting
+from this appeal, and was therefore not surprised when I sat down, to
+see that the stolid indifference with which they had received me was
+still unbroken; but I _was_ surprised at what followed.
+
+"A great burly Irishman--one Malone--who has been working in the pit for
+half-a-year or so, stood up and spoke.
+
+"He did not say much, but every word told. He retailed the story of his
+wife's death-bed, and how the master's daughter had come, undeterred by
+wind and rain, and brought with her the comfort and hope which had made
+his wife's last moments the happiest she had ever known. I cannot bring
+before you the grandeur of simplicity which carried such weight with it,
+nor the terrible sincerity of the rugged giant, as he stood with tears
+in his eyes and his voice husky with emotion, but it is a scene I will
+never forget as long as I live, and I don't think any one who witnessed
+it will ever forget it either.
+
+"He reminded them too, how the master's daughter and her friends had
+wrought and thought for their children's good and theirs, and how there
+was scarcely one present who had not reaped the benefit of their labours
+in comfort and cleanliness alone, not to mention other and better
+things.
+
+"In conclusion, he proposed that they should all go back to their work,
+after they had given three cheers in honour of the young ladies, for the
+sake of whose goodness alone, they should be willing to do much more
+than this.
+
+"He sat down amid a perfect burst of cheering, and when that was
+subdued, another miner rose and seconded him, and the resolution was
+carried by acclamation.
+
+"Some one tried to oppose it, but he was effectually shouted down in
+less time than it takes to tell it; and so the dispute was settled, and
+my men go back to work on Monday in perfect good humour with themselves
+and all the world."
+
+Nobody spoke when he had finished his recital, the minds of all being
+intensely occupied, each with its individual reflections on the scene
+just described.
+
+"And that man," continued Mr. Kimberly after a long pause, "was, not two
+months ago, the most malignant malcontent in Hollowmell."
+
+Still no one else seemed to care about giving expression to any thoughts
+they might have on the subject, and in silence they separated for the
+night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+MONA'S DEFEAT.
+
+
+Next day was very wet and stormy, therefore Minnie could not go down to
+see Mabel as she had intended, and the whole family were at home after
+church.
+
+"I say, Min," said Archie looking in at the parlour door, where Minnie,
+Seymour, and Ned were each engaged in staring out at the rain as it
+poured, and whirled, and beat upon the glass, as if in glorious
+enjoyment of some long-meditated revenge. "I say, they are all out
+down-stairs, and there's a jolly fire there. Let's go down into the
+kitchen and eat apples."
+
+"Will any of you come?" asked Minnie, turning to Ned and Seymour, who
+hailed the prospect of such an advantageous exchange with delight, and
+thither they repaired forthwith.
+
+It was a great stone kitchen, with an immense fire-place, in which
+blazed what Archie had with justice described as a jolly fire.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Why, this is the idea!" exclaimed Ned, as he settled himself
+comfortably in his chair, and began on the apples which Archie piled
+upon the table. "I never imagined a kitchen was such a jolly place
+before--upon my word, I didn't. It fairly beats anything in the way of
+drawing-rooms, dining-rooms, or parlours that ever occurred in my
+experience, at least. Why did not we think of this before?" he demanded,
+as he stretched out his long legs before the fire with an air of intense
+satisfaction.
+
+"O, we've often thought of it before, and done it too," answered Minnie
+laughing. "Only you see it isn't always possible, as we can only do it
+when the servants are out."
+
+"Ah--um--just so," remarked Ned in a ruminating voice, "that's it, is
+it? Well, couldn't we have another kitchen for them, and keep this one
+for ourselves? I don't see any good reason why the best apartment in the
+house should be expressly constructed and designed for the particular
+delectation of the servants. I say it's a shame.'"
+
+"You'd better enjoy it while you may," advised Seymour amid the laughter
+of the other two. "And not spoil your digestion by grumbling. When _you_
+have a house I have no doubt you will sit in the kitchen, and allow the
+servants to occupy the drawing-room."
+
+Ned viewed this new proposition with grave and philosophic aspect, for
+the space of two minutes, and then gave it as the result of his
+cogitation that he "didn't know but he should prefer that arrangement
+after all."
+
+Just then Charlie, guided by their laughter, came blundering down the
+stairs, and not being familiar with the way, took a wrong turning, and
+much to his astonishment found himself in an apartment, which was
+evidently a store-room of some description. Hastily groping his way
+back, he made an essay in another direction, and dived into a passage
+which ultimately landed him in a coal-cellar. On returning from this
+second unsuccessful expedition he discovered a door in the passage which
+he opened. Merely pausing to assure himself that it wasn't a cupboard,
+he stepped confidently out, and was precipitated into the kitchen, in a
+manner more expeditious than dignified, or even comfortable.
+
+"Good gracious! Whatever _can_ that be!" exclaimed Minnie, starting up,
+and running to the rescue, while the others followed with various
+appropriate and characteristic remarks of an ejaculatory description.
+
+"O, don't disturb yourselves for the world--it isn't worth your
+while--_now_!" they were assured in the familiar tones of Charlie. "A
+nice set of people, you," he continued, when he had seated himself in
+the chair Ned had vacated in his astonishment. "To sit here comfortably
+and listen to a fellow searching about for the kitchen till it might as
+well be in the North West Passage for all the chance he has of finding
+it."
+
+"We heard you come down stairs," explained Minnie when she could speak
+again, the rest were too much overcome with amusement to offer any
+observations whatever. "But we thought you had changed your mind and
+gone back when you didn't make your appearance." And she went off into
+another fit of merriment.
+
+"Well, now that I _am_ here at last--my dangers and perils at an
+end--won't any of you show your charity to a poor shipwrecked and
+tempest-tossed mariner, by pitching over half-a-dozen of those apples?
+Remarkably snug quarters these, to be sure! Quite worth the trouble I
+had in finding them."
+
+"No doubt," returned Ned, finding himself deprived of his comfortable
+position, "when you manage to usurp another fellow's place. Remarkably
+snug, indeed!"
+
+"Glad to find you're of the same opinion, old fellow, I rather imagined
+you wouldn't be so enthusiastic for a minute or so," and he settled
+himself down in a still more comfortable position yet, and seemed to
+enjoy himself greatly.
+
+Ned, seeing that remonstrance was altogether useless, was forced to hold
+his tongue, and hunt up another chair with the best grace he could
+assume, after which Charlie gave an interesting account of his
+adventures.
+
+Then they conversed on different subjects, and soon their conversation
+turned on the miner's dispute, and the scene their father had described
+to them on the preceding evening.
+
+"I'm sure _I_ said Min was a brick all along. I said they were all
+bricks, didn't I?" exclaimed Archie, appealing to Minnie.
+
+"To be sure you did," she corroborated. "But I don't know that they
+would have regarded it as any great compliment, if indeed they would
+have understood it as such at all, so I didn't apprise them of your
+delicate attention--the girls, I mean." Archie pondered over this for
+several minutes, and seemed to come to the conclusion that perhaps it
+was better as it was, at any rate, he did not pursue the subject
+further.
+
+"Well, I must confess," remarked Ned, "that I never half believed there
+was any practical use in Christianity till now."
+
+"Practical use of Christianity," repeated Seymour, disdainfully, "the
+commonest charity would have had the same result."
+
+"And what is the commonest charity but the essence of Christianity?"
+asked Minnie.
+
+"Fiddlestick!" replied Seymour, irreverently. "Religion is based upon
+the difference, in an ecclesiastical sense, 'twixt tweedledum and
+tweedledee."
+
+"Not the true religion of Christ," asserted Minnie, "not _my_ religion."
+
+"Then what is your definition of religion?" asked Charlie, who had been
+silent hitherto on the subject. "It deserves a voice, you know, since it
+has 'justified its existence by its success' in the words of father's
+favourite maxim."
+
+"The religion of Christ does not justify itself by success," corrected
+Minnie, "since it is in itself the fountain of justice as well as of
+mercy, it requires no justification, but its adoption justifies all who
+receive it."
+
+"Well, but tell us what it _is_, according to your interpretation?"
+
+"According to my interpretation, which is also that of the New
+Testament," answered Minnie, "Pure religion and undefiled, is to visit
+the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep one's self
+unspotted from the world."
+
+"Well, that's simple enough at any rate. Is that your whole confession
+of Faith?"
+
+"Yes, those are what I consider the duties of religion, but no one who
+has really felt its power, could ever think of them merely as duties."
+
+"You have shown us beyond dispute that you are capable of acting up to
+the first proposition. Even I, who know little about it, can see that is
+the easier of the two, how about the second?"
+
+"There is only one way I know of fulfilling that requisition--I can't
+help it if it seems absurd to you--to me it is the true and only one,
+and that is by following closely the footsteps of that One who alone
+trod the world without being corrupted by its evil."
+
+Charlie considered a minute.
+
+"Well, after all," he said, "there must be something in it. No amount of
+reasoning, however sound, would have moved the turgid intellects of
+those miners. I suppose that as long as minds of that calibre exist,
+there must also exist a means of influencing them for good, which must
+of necessity be the extreme antipodes of their own inclinations."
+
+"I think I don't understand you very clearly," returned she, "but if you
+mean, as I think you do, that Christianity is only to be tolerated for
+what it can do in the way of working on the emotions of those who are
+altogether governed by them, you are wrong. Its purpose is a far higher
+one, that of awakening the conscience, and enlightening the darkened
+understanding of such as these."
+
+"And of what use is it to those who are already freed by other means
+from that benighted condition?"
+
+Minnie looked perplexed, and the tears began to gather slowly in her
+eyes. It pained her to find her knowledge on the subject so limited.
+
+"Charlie," she said tremulously, "I am but newly awakened myself out of
+what you call 'that benighted condition,' through the influence of the
+Gospel of Christ, and I don't know anything of the other means you talk
+about. You know I am not much given to thinking, and I have never tried
+to argue out these matters. I only know what it has done for me."
+
+"And what is that?" asked Charlie.
+
+"It has saved me from a frivolous, unprofitable life on earth, and a
+death beyond the grave," replied Minnie, solemnly, "and what it has done
+for me, it can do for all who are willing."
+
+She paused a moment, but as nobody spoke, went on: "I don't imagine that
+it has the same effect on everybody, it can't, of course, as everybody
+isn't alike, but it must make a change of some kind, even in people who
+live the best lives outwardly, before they realize the power of
+religion, live only half-filled lives, however much work they may do--as
+Mrs. Browning says--'Nor man, nor nature satisfies whom only _God_
+created.'"
+
+"That's just where Minnie has us, _I_ think," put in Seymour at this
+juncture, "If you all feel as I do, you must acknowledge that there is
+something within us which isn't of a piece with the corruptible part of
+our nature--something that craves for an object to worship and pour
+itself out to, and yet nothing on earth is perfect enough to satisfy."
+
+"I suppose you mean the soul," observed Ned.
+
+"Nay," replied Seymour, "that is what I would call the spirit, and if
+so, it cannot be of the earth--it must be supernatural. It cannot be a
+substance, and therefore it cannot be killed or subjected to any of the
+forms of corruption or extinction to which mundane objects are liable."
+
+Just at this point they were interrupted by the entrance of two of the
+servants, and they were obliged to exchange their quarters for the
+drawing-room, where the conversation was not resumed. On the next
+afternoon, however, as Minnie was alone in the parlour, Archie came in,
+and leaning on the back of her chair with one arm round her neck, began
+in his usual impulsive fashion. "I say Minnie, Ned and I were talking it
+over--you know, what we were talking about last night--well, we had a
+long talk after we went to bed and we both came to the conclusion that
+since we always intended to go in for it some time, and knew that we
+could not face death without it, it would be a mean and cowardly thing
+to make a rush for it just at the end, and so we're determined to try
+for it at once."
+
+Minnie's heart gave a great throb of joy at these words, and a torrent
+of thanksgiving went out from it for this answer to her unceasing
+prayers on her brothers' behalf; nevertheless, she was a good deal
+perplexed about the queer ideas he seemed to entertain on the subject,
+especially as he did not seem to have the ghost of a notion as to how he
+was to "make a try for it," as he expressed it.
+
+Just at this point Mabel came in, and Minnie, for the first time in her
+life, regretted her friend's presence, fully expecting Archie to
+disappear as he usually did when any of her friends visited her. But
+this time Archie did not move, and after a minute he said "Does not Miss
+Chartres go down to Hollowmell with you? I think Seymour said she was
+with you the night you went with Charlie?"
+
+"Yes," answered Minnie, wondering what was coming next.
+
+"Then she won't be annoyed if we go on with what we were talking about.
+You see," he said turning to Mabel, "I can't bear to leave anything half
+done, and I don't see how I'm to get through this without Minnie's
+help."
+
+Mabel apologised for interrupting them, and begged that they would not
+mind her presence at all.
+
+"O, but we shall," said Archie smiling, "for perhaps you may help
+us--me, at any rate, to understand what Minnie is trying to teach me."
+
+"And what may that be?" enquired Mabel, "I am afraid there is little
+hope for my success if Minnie fails."
+
+"The way to Heaven," replied Archie without a moment's hesitation. To an
+ordinary observer her face would not have displayed any emotion, but the
+boy's keen eyes noticed how the shadows deepened in hers, and that her
+voice trembled a little as she answered that no one was better able to
+do that than Minnie.
+
+"Well, I'm not so sure of that," he remarked, "Minnie has not had any
+difficulties herself, you see, and she can't understand how any one else
+can have any either. As she says herself she just took the salvation
+when it was offered her and God did the rest. That's easy enough--or
+looks so at the first glance, but when you come to try it, why, there's
+nothing more difficult in the whole world. It's just like Columbus and
+his friends turned the other way. They said it was impossible at first,
+and when he showed them they cried 'How easy!' we think, 'How easy!' But
+when we come to try we find it almost impossible."
+
+"And soon," interrupted Minnie, "you will be wondering at yourself
+because you did not see it immediately."
+
+After this the three had a long and earnest conversation, but Archie did
+not seem to get any nearer a solution of his difficulties, and at last
+decided to go in search of Edward Laurence, who might help him he
+thought.
+
+Minnie was a good deal disappointed that she could not make things clear
+to Archie, but feeling assured by his earnestness that he would not long
+remain in the dark, she brightened up, and gave Mabel an account of how
+the strike had been averted.
+
+Mabel's delight at this good news was in no way less than Minnie's had
+been, and for the first time since its occurrence, Minnie allowed
+herself to taste the fruit of her labour.
+
+"And O, Mabel!" she exclaimed when they had talked about it till she
+felt it was too dangerously pleasant. "I didn't think of it before, but
+now the hall won't be needed for any more miner's meetings, so I suppose
+_we_ may have it now."
+
+"I should think we shall be able to get it easily enough," agreed Mabel,
+"What a deal of good has grown out of our little venture."
+
+"Yes, is it not splendid to think of--and oh, don't you think we might
+go round to Rowson's to-night and secure the hall?"
+
+"I think we might, the sooner it's settled the better."
+
+They were soon ready, and walked slowly along, enjoying the sweetness of
+the lovely evening. Not far from the door they met Archie coming at a
+terrible pace, his face as bright and glowing as the sunset sky; without
+stopping to consider that he was on the public road, or regarding the
+amused look of passers-by, he caught Minnie round the neck and kissed
+her, and would in all probability have done the same to Mabel, if
+Seymour had not come up at that moment, and demanded of him what he
+meant by "making such an ass of himself."
+
+Unabashed by Seymour's description of his conduct, Archie replied that
+Minnie understood him, and did not object, which statement she instantly
+corroborated.
+
+He next enquired where they were going, and on their errand being
+explained both boys volunteered to accompany them, being of opinion that
+they were better fitted to carry out arrangements of such a nature than
+young ladies in general--a view which Mabel and Minnie both warmly
+protested against.
+
+"But I think you had better go home, Archie," said Minnie with a look
+which he was not slow to interpret and respond to.
+
+"All right!" he replied cheerfully. Then in an undertone as Seymour and
+Mabel walked on, "you understand, Min, it _is_ all right."
+
+"Yes dear, I understand, and I _am_ so glad," she returned in such an
+affectionate voice, that Archie was moved to kiss her again, and then
+she ran off after the other two, feeling that her heart was almost too
+full of happiness.
+
+When the trio arrived at Mr. Rowson's he was out, but they were desired
+to wait for his coming as he had left word that if any of the young
+ladies from the Hollow called, he wished particularly to see them.
+Accordingly, they sat down as requested, and in the course of ten
+minutes the gentleman himself appeared.
+
+"I suppose you have come about the hall," he observed, addressing
+Minnie, after they had exchanged greetings.
+
+"Exactly," she replied, "we guessed it would be vacant now, as the
+miners' dispute is settled."
+
+"Thanks to you and your kind-hearted friends," put in the little man,
+smiling at the two girls who blushed violently.
+
+"I am sure," he continued, turning to Seymour, "it would be quite a
+pleasure to let the hall to these young ladies for any purpose, but most
+of all for the purpose they have in view, and not to be behind hand in
+doing a good turn when I can, I must beg of you to accept the use of the
+hall for that day as a present." And he stopped breathless and
+perspiring from his unwonted exertion.
+
+At first neither Mabel nor Minnie would hear of Mr. Rowson's proposal,
+and protested that they would rather pay for the hall, till Seymour, who
+had until now been a mere spectator of the proceedings, came to Mr.
+Rowson's aid who was by this time in a state of hopeless perspiration.
+
+"Come, come, young ladies!" he said. "Do try to reduce yourselves to an
+ordinary level. Be a little more sensible, and a little less quixotic.
+Does it not occur to you that it is perhaps a little selfish, trying to
+secure the monopoly of charity to yourselves, and leaving others who too
+would like to do something in that way out in the cold?"
+
+"But--" Minnie began, and then she came to a standstill, quite overcome
+by the last most ingenious argument.
+
+Seymour laughed, so did Mr. Rowson, so did Mabel, and finally so did
+Minnie herself, and thus the matter was amicably settled.
+
+Seymour and Minnie walked home with Mabel, and when they had left her at
+her own door, as they strolled slowly home, Seymour remarked, "What a
+quiet, sensible little woman your friend is--as different as possible
+from you; how comes it that two such extremes manage to get on so well?"
+
+"Thanks for your good opinion! It's quite flattering to be classed as
+the extreme opposite of quiet and sensible," was the only reply
+vouchsafed by Minnie with a great show of offended dignity.
+
+Seymour laughed, and remarked that often "people with a great deal more
+sense didn't put it to nearly such a good use."
+
+Whereat Minnie assumed a slightly molified air, and observed that now he
+was disparaging himself--a piece of humility which he altogether
+repudiated.
+
+Next morning there was a great deal of rejoicing among the girls, who
+were in early enough to hear Minnie's news, and some few, who had
+hitherto held back fearing public ridicule, were now eager to join
+them, finding they were regarded, not only with toleration, but even
+with approbation by the general public.
+
+Mona Cameron was not among the number, though in her heart she would
+gladly have been there. She had many times longed to join them, and was
+even now only kept back by her pride, and the conviction that it would
+degrade her to place herself in the ranks and acknowledge Minnie
+Kimberly as her head and leader as the other girls cheerfully did,
+although Minnie herself had placed Mabel in the position of command, and
+loyally insisted on her approval being necessary to the most trivial
+arrangement.
+
+On this morning it happened that Mona was in early, and was obliged to
+listen to the happy chatter of the girls as they discussed their plans
+with a zest and good-humour such as seldom prevails when a company of
+girls have under discussion a subject on which each has her individual
+and separate ideas, and is anxious to see them carried out.
+
+Mona sat apart, feeling very much annoyed with herself for caring at all
+about "charity organizations," and yet caring all the more, listening
+eagerly to every different suggestion--rejecting this one in her own
+mind, and approving that, or improving it, as the case might be, by
+tacking on some neat little amendment evolved from her own clever brain.
+
+All of a sudden, these several proceedings were brought to a standstill
+by the entrance of the Principal and teachers rather sharper to the
+minute than was the usual custom of the school.
+
+Immediately after the opening exercises, Miss Marsden produced from an
+envelope in her hand, a large blue paper, and announced that she had
+that morning received the result of the examination, and would now read
+it to the school, as it was probably a matter of interest to all, though
+only two of their number had taken part in it, and might possibly act as
+a stimulus to others to follow their example.
+
+She then proceeded to read the list at the head of which stood Mona
+Cameron, followed by Minnie Kimberly--a circumstance which was simply
+the fulfilment of the general expectation; but the announcement of
+Mona's name as the taker of the Latin prize was a matter of astonishment
+to all, and rather a blow to most of them, as it had been confidently
+expected that Minnie would take it, and to no one did it afford greater
+surprise than to Mona herself. The flush of triumph on her face deepened
+for a moment on hearing this second piece of news, but it faded quickly
+as she remembered Minnie's translation.
+
+"Prize-taker or no prize-taker," she muttered to herself, "Minnie's
+translation was worth a dozen of mine." And her sense of justice
+revolted against the decision, whosever it might be; moreover, Mona did
+not care much about the prize she did not care to have the name of being
+first merely, her ambition was to _be_ first, and feel herself first.
+She knew in her own heart that in this matter she was far behind Minnie,
+and was therefore far from being satisfied, although any of the girls
+would have said she certainly ought to be.
+
+She received her music lesson from Miss Marsden herself so when the
+hour arrived she resolved to speak to her on the subject, and did so.
+
+"I can't make anything of Minnie," replied Miss Marsden to her query,
+"she showed me her translation--one which would have been no shame to a
+graduate in Classics, and forgive me, Miss Cameron, greatly superior to
+yours.
+
+"She said that she showed me it simply to assure me that it was not
+through idleness she declined to enter the Latin competition. I was
+naturally anxious to know what motives influenced her in this course,
+but she would give me no satisfaction on that point. She merely said she
+did not intend to send it, that was all.
+
+"I reasoned with her," continued the Principal, "and used every argument
+I could think of to induce her to change her mind, and finally
+represented to her that it was her duty to consider the interests of the
+school as well as her own feelings. She became quite distressed at this,
+and assured me she had made every effort in her power to make a
+creditable appearance, but she _could_ not alter her determination in
+this case.
+
+"I saw that further remonstrance would only pain her and could not
+effect my purpose, so I said no more, but allowed her to have her way."
+
+Mona looked almost incredulous for a moment, and then without a word
+went on with her music. She thought she had discovered Minnie's motive.
+
+When she entered the schoolroom again, she secured a seat beside Mabel,
+and launched at once into the subject uppermost in her mind.
+
+"Well, Mabel," she began, "what do you think of the result of the
+examination?"
+
+"I don't know that I have thought much about it at all but I do not see
+how the result could have been different."
+
+"Ah, then, I was right in supposing you to be aware of Minnie's
+intention not to send that Latin translation?"
+
+"Yes, I did know of it," replied Mabel.
+
+"And why then, in the name of justice, did you not prevent her carrying
+out that intention?" demanded Mona, impatiently, almost forgetting her
+object. "Surely you might have used your well-known influence better!"
+
+"Nothing would have induced her to give up her determination," replied
+Mabel, quietly, "and I would have been the last to advise her to do so,
+seeing she made it a matter between herself and her conscience."
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed Mona, recollecting herself, "That is just what I want to
+know about. What was her real reason? you know she did not give any to
+Miss Marsden. Don't be afraid to tell me, I have no sinister motive in
+asking it, I merely wish to do Minnie justice."
+
+Mabel glanced at her in some astonishment before she replied. "I am not
+sure that the reason she gave to me was her real one," she said, "at
+least, I think it was only a part of it. However, I will tell you what
+she gave to me as such. She said that she had studied Latin so long with
+her brothers, that she would be able to place any one at a disadvantage
+who was obliged to study it alone. She considered that she occupied a
+rather unfair position with regard to you particularly, and probably
+also to many of the others who would take part in the examination.
+
+"I think she was pretty sorry about it, for I can assure you, she spared
+no pains on that translation, and was very proud of it. I remember how
+regretfully she looked at it, when she told me she was not going to send
+it after all, and then laughed and said she should be satisfied with the
+power to do it, even if no one knew about it but herself."
+
+"I am sure I would if I had been Minnie," remarked Mona. "No, I wouldn't
+either--I would have liked it to be known and appreciated--but I
+wouldn't have cared for the prize in comparison with the translation
+itself. But have you no idea about the rest of her reason? That isn't
+the whole of it, as you say."
+
+"Well, I have my own ideas," admitted Mabel, "but I don't consider
+myself at liberty to give expression to them, even as conjectures."
+
+"Then I _am_ right!" exclaimed Mona, triumphantly, "I have got on to the
+right track at last, and you will see what I shall make of it. Mabel,"
+she continued earnestly, "you can't think how miserable I have been all
+this while about my conduct to Minnie. Often I have been on the point of
+giving in and acknowledging how wrong it was, but my pride has always
+stood in the way and dared me to do it. I don't think I am a coward in
+most things, but I am a perfect dastard before that, my worst enemy. I
+think he is down now, though, and if I can help it, he'll never recover
+from the defeat Minnie has administered to him this morning."
+
+Mabel did not know very well what to say in reply to this confession.
+She felt very much inclined to get up and embrace Mona on the spot, a
+most uncommon circumstance with our calm, quiet, undemonstrative Mabel,
+but it being within school hours, and consequently such an exhibition
+being altogether out of the question, she merely slipped her hand into
+Mona's and gave it a hearty squeeze which was cordially returned by
+Mona, at the same time furtively wiping some imperceptible spots of dust
+off her cheek, while she narrowly examined the points of her compasses
+which she still held in her hand.
+
+"Don't say anything," whispered Mona, after a long pause, "I'll manage
+it myself."
+
+"Very well," agreed Mabel, as she rolled up her work and went out.
+
+Mona was determined to do what she had made up her mind to do,
+thoroughly, and to do it at once, before her purpose began to cool, and
+perhaps die out all together. Accordingly, she watched diligently for an
+opportunity to speak to Minnie, which seemed to be a particularly
+difficult matter to obtain that afternoon; but at last her perseverance
+was rewarded by the sight of Minnie alone in the dressing-room.
+
+She was rummaging about in her jacket-pocket for something, and started
+slightly when she became aware of Mona's presence. She did not speak,
+but continued her search, and Mona looked at her wistfully for a moment,
+not knowing how to begin--her carefully prepared appeal having vanished
+as if by magic.
+
+"Minnie," was all she could falter out, "I--have been so--so--unjust to
+you--always. Can you forgive me?"
+
+For the space of a minute Minnie stood gazing at her in sheer amazement,
+and then with impulsive swiftness flung her arms round her neck,
+whispering, "Oh, Mona, I am so glad we may be friends at last."
+
+Mona forgot all about the Latin translation, and Minnie's motive in
+connection with it--forgot everything in her new friendship, and not
+till many days after did she recur to the subject.
+
+The girls were all dying of curiosity to know the history of the
+wonderful alliance between the quondam enemies and rivals, but neither
+Mona, nor Minnie, nor Mabel, who alone knew any of the circumstances
+connected with it, uttered a word of explanation, so they were fain to
+accept it as it stood.
+
+Mona entered heart and soul into the arrangements for the floral
+entertainment, and won the admiration as well as the gratitude of all,
+by the remarkable genius she displayed in the creation of novel devices,
+and before unheard-of improvements in their plans.
+
+She had evidently made good use of her time during her self-imposed
+banishment from their councils; she had listened to all their plans and
+revised and improved them in her own mind, using up every little atom of
+good suggestion till she had perfected and rounded them to her own
+satisfaction, which was a much harder matter to gain than the
+satisfaction of the young ladies to whom she had now the opportunity of
+propounding them, indeed, it was a matter of such universal
+congratulation when Mona Cameron joined them that, had Minnie been just
+a little less anxious for the good of others, and a little more desirous
+of her own glorification, she would certainly have become jealous of
+Mona's new-found popularity. But Mona was at this time a good deal
+softened by the ordeal of humiliation through which she had passed,
+albeit, the ceremony was performed before only one witness, and did not
+feel any great inclination for the applause with which her efforts were
+invariably greeted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+A SUCCESS.
+
+
+On Friday all was bustle and preparation for the entertainment which was
+to take place on the next day. Minnie was everywhere at once, and yet
+was in constant request.
+
+The girls had begged and been granted a holiday that their preparations
+might be as complete as possible, and their unfailing allies--the
+children of Hollowmell--were at hand to render them every possible sort
+of help.
+
+Next morning Minnie was flying round, "more like a bird than a human
+being," as her father observed. She had to see that the prizes--of which
+there were a considerable number to be distributed--were carried down to
+the hall, and innumerable other things about which she was in a fever of
+excitement.
+
+The dinner was ordered for half-past two precisely, and by that hour
+everybody had arrived.
+
+It was a goodly sight in Minnie's eyes to see them come in--the miners
+and their wives and children--all looking clean and respectable, and
+many of them even looking very well-dressed, as indeed they could all
+well afford to be, if they had not been in the habit of taking their
+earnings to the public-house in preference to any other place.
+
+Pat Malone was there and all his children, accompanied by Molly Gray,
+who had been promoted to the dignity of his housekeeper since the death
+of his wife.
+
+In the morning Minnie had informed her father of the expected presence
+of some of the young ladies' parents and friends, and Mr. Kimberly
+suggested the propriety of inviting these to dinner in his own house, at
+a later hour. This proposal, however, was met by Minnie with decided
+disapproval, who requested instead that they should be invited to sit
+down with the company.
+
+"I don't wish the people to think they are a show," she declared, "and
+that all this is merely for the amusement of us and our friends--they
+must either dine with my people or stay out of the hall till dinner is
+over."
+
+Every one accepted the invitation--in fact, Mrs. Cameron declared that
+for her part, she had come for that purpose and no other, and moreover,
+she believed they had all come with a similar intention.
+
+"Now, my good friends," said Mrs. Cameron, as they prepared to enter the
+banqueting-hall, "don't sit all together at one end of the table, and
+look exclusive. Mix yourselves up among the company and make yourselves
+sociable, and don't, whatever you do, seem to be trying to set them a
+good example, in the way of eating, or you'll spoil their pleasure and
+their appetites too." After which advice, delivered with much energy,
+she accepted Mr. Kimberly's arm and proceeded into the hall, followed by
+the other guests.
+
+It was a day, never to be forgotten in the annals of Hollowmell, and for
+years its inhabitants talked about it, and dated events from it.
+
+The dinner was a great success, and although there was no liquor of an
+intoxicating kind in the bill of fare, there were many healths proposed,
+and toasts drunk in the harmless beverages which were upon the table in
+abundance.
+
+Minnie's and Mabel's healths were drunk with much enthusiasm, as the
+original inaugurators of the good work, and then the health of all the
+young ladies together, which was responded to on their behalf by Mr.
+Kimberly who expressed the great delight he experienced in reviewing the
+fruit of such a successful venture, and congratulated his workmen on
+having for their champions such a bevy of fair reformers, which remark
+was wildly applauded by the whole assemblage.
+
+Mr. Kimberly and Mrs. Cameron having likewise received a similar
+tribute, the company rose, and proceeded to entertain themselves with
+general conversation while the remains of the feast were cleared away,
+and the hall reduced to an orderly condition.
+
+Then came the distribution of prizes which occupied a considerable time,
+Mr. Kimberly saying a few words to each youthful prize-taker, as the
+various articles were handed to him or her by Mrs. Cameron.
+
+After that there were games for the children, into which many of the
+older people entered with great spirit and enjoyment, and as an
+appropriate climax the service of strawberries and cream.
+
+When it had been disposed of the company relapsed into silence and a
+sort of expectant hush fell upon it which it was difficult to account
+for, until one of the miners rose to make a speech.
+
+He floundered about a good deal, and didn't exactly know what to say,
+and at length, in a sort of desperation, determined to forego the
+pleasure of indulging in a harangue, and went straight to the root of
+the business by producing from his pocket two small boxes, and presented
+them in the name of the Hollowmell miners to Miss Mabel Chartres and
+Miss Minnie Kimberly, as a mark of their respect and gratitude.
+
+These, when opened, were found to contain each an exquisite coral and
+gold necklet, which had been bought by the miners themselves, who, of
+their own accord, had subscribed the money for their purchase.
+
+The two girls were completely overcome, to such an extent, indeed, that
+they could scarcely collect their ideas sufficiently to beg Mr. Kimberly
+to thank the donors for them, which duty he performed, however, very
+happily--promising for them, at the instigation of Charlie, that they
+would wear the gifts, so gracefully and unexpectedly bestowed upon them,
+incessantly, and would ever have the pleasantest associations connected
+with them.
+
+Soon after their guests departed, and the Kimberlys went home.
+
+Archie, Ned, and Minnie were in the parlour discussing the events of
+the day, and regaling each other with their respective experiences as
+they were in the habit of doing.
+
+"I am sure there is something serious the matter with Mabel," said
+Archie, suddenly, "did you not notice something strange about her
+to-day?"
+
+"She was very tired, you know how little is sufficient to tire her, and
+the excitement was too much for her," said Minnie.
+
+"I don't think that was all," returned Archie, then suddenly abandoning
+the subject he inquired where Charlie might be.
+
+"He's with papa in the study," replied Minnie. "I saw him go in a few
+minutes ago."
+
+"Then I think I'll go and find Seymour. I want somebody to talk to, and
+Ned looks too lazy even to wink."
+
+"Seymour isn't back yet," drawled Ned, speaking solely for the purpose
+of disproving Archie's accusation, "he went off with Miss Mabel, and a
+precious while he has been doing that quarter of a mile."
+
+"Oh, there he is!" exclaimed Minnie, as he passed the window, and a
+moment later he entered the room looking very grave indeed.
+
+"What's the matter?" inquired all three almost in a breath.
+
+"It's Mabel," he replied slowly. "She is in great danger, the doctor
+thinks she has burst a blood-vessel, but cannot be quite sure yet."
+
+"But how did it happen?" cried Minnie, "she was all right when she left
+here. She did not feel ill at all--only tired."
+
+"The doctor says it must have been the excitement, but I am certain he
+is wrong there. I know more than he does." The last words were spoken in
+a voice too low to reach any one but Minnie.
+
+"I know," she said, "she told me about it to-day."
+
+"But you don't know half though--you don't know the terrible state of
+mind she's been in for months--it may have been years for aught I know,
+the wearing strain of incessant strife between feeling and reason going
+on beneath every other interest and occupation. It was little wonder, I
+think, that it should tell on her thus at last."
+
+Minnie listened in silence while Seymour spoke, and then she said in a
+low, almost inaudible voice:
+
+"Why did Mabel keep this from me?" And without waiting for a reply went
+out and sought her own room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+Next day Mabel was no better. Minnie called two or three times during
+the day, but she was unconscious each time, and remained so all that
+night, and most of the next day. But towards evening she revived
+slightly and her consciousness returned.
+
+Minnie was not with her at the time, but as soon as she became
+acquainted with the fact she hastened to her friend's side. She was
+allowed to see her only for a few moments, and during that time they
+were not permitted to exchange more than half-a-dozen words.
+
+On the same evening, immediately after her short interview with her
+friend, Mr. Kimberly called Minnie into his study, saying he wished to
+have a little conversation with her.
+
+Having first inquired for her friend, and expressed his pleasure on
+hearing of her improvement, opened the subject on his mind by inquiring
+how long she had known Miss Cameron.
+
+Minnie was somewhat astonished by the question, and especially by the
+abruptness of her father's manner of putting it, but she gave a clear
+and concise account of her friendship with Mona, and of her previous
+acquaintance with her in Miss Marsden's school.
+
+"Then you have only been friends for a very short time," was his comment
+when she had finished.
+
+"Only for a few weeks, papa," she replied.
+
+"And has she never mentioned to you since the date of your friendship
+her former acquaintance with your brother Charlie?"
+
+"No, she has not, but I am aware of it notwithstanding," confessed she,
+wondering more than ever.
+
+"Well, it seems they became acquainted in London at the house of my
+friend Mrs. Cameron--Mr. Cameron's sister it turns out, although I was
+not aware of the circumstance until to-day."
+
+Here Mr. Kimberly paused, looked at Minnie with an amused expression for
+a minute or two, and then went on--
+
+"You look rather bewildered, and now I come to think of it, I dare say
+it is rather a bewildering thing to be treated like an old woman of
+fifty. I need scarcely have told you of this so soon--especially as you
+will hear of it soon enough from lips fitter to speak of it than mine,
+but one always feels the need of a confidante, however old he may be and
+young she may be."
+
+"And I shall be prouder of nothing than of being yours," she returned,
+stroking his grey hair lovingly.
+
+"Not even of the Presidentship of the Hollowmell Mission?" enquired he
+incredulously.
+
+"O, Mabel is that," she replied, her face clouding again as the thought
+flashed across her mind that perhaps Mabel would be that no more.
+
+"Well, the position of arbitrator between discontented miners and their
+employers," he suggested, anxious to divert her thoughts from the gloomy
+subject he had unwittingly touched on.
+
+"Not even of that," she declared, brightening a little. "Besides, all
+the girls have a share in that--but to our confidences again. What of
+Charlie and Mona?"
+
+"I suppose you couldn't guess?"
+
+"I am sure I couldn't," she asserted. Then added laughingly, "unless
+they've fallen in love with each other--by-the-way," she continued,
+growing suddenly serious again; "that isn't as altogether an improbable
+think as it looks--I remember coming to the conclusion that Charlie had
+fallen in love with her writing, and thinking that it was almost
+equivalent to falling in love with herself."
+
+"Well, that is just what has happened to them--though I rather think it
+happened before the creation of your ingenious theory. It appears they
+had some misunderstanding, or quarrel or something of that nature,
+before Miss Cameron left London, and they had never met again till he
+saw her along with you decorating the hall down there."
+
+"And they've made it up!" exclaimed Minnie, clapping her hands in her
+delight.
+
+"Yes, it is settled--the girl's only nineteen, and in my opinion too
+young. But her father doesn't seem to think so."
+
+"O, that's what he was here for then," remarked Minnie, "I met him as I
+was going up to Mabel's."
+
+"Yes," replied her father, smiling. "He seems to have fully made up his
+mind on one point."
+
+"What point?"
+
+"That there is nothing and nobody worth considering in comparison with
+his daughter, and in that conviction his wife and he seem to be
+completely at one."
+
+Minnie laughed.
+
+"I know somebody who is pretty nearly as decided in his opinions on a
+similar subject," she hinted.
+
+"Come, now, not quite," protested he.
+
+"Well, he's a great deal older than Mr. Cameron, and consequently ought
+to have a great deal more sense."
+
+"And his daughter snubs him too much--I wonder if Miss Mona has as sharp
+a tongue?"
+
+"I would advise you not to rouse it," was Minnie's reply, as she flitted
+away.
+
+Next day the mid-summer holidays commenced, much to Minnie's joy, for
+now she could sit by her friend many hours during the day, cheering her
+in her intervals of consciousness, and watching and soothing her at
+other times--thereby not only greatly aiding her slow recovery, but also
+rendering her aunt inestimable service in her present harassing
+position.
+
+Mabel's great danger did not lie so much in the ruptured blood-vessel,
+as in a sharp attack of brain fever, which had followed upon her late
+excitement, and the slackening of the strain she had borne so long.
+
+She was yet very far from being out of danger, but there was scarcely so
+much need for apprehension, and even such a slight crumb of comfort was
+eagerly caught at.
+
+Minnie was sitting beside Mabel's bed on the third day of the holidays,
+when she heard a step outside the door. The handle was turned
+noiselessly, and Mona came in on tip-toes, fearful of creating the least
+sound.
+
+"Miss Chartres didn't tell me you were here," she said, her voice
+trembling. "How is she?"
+
+"I think the fever isn't quite so bad--she hasn't been wandering so much
+this afternoon."
+
+Mabel had lain almost motionless all this time, but now her pale lips
+began to move, although for some moments no sound issued from them. Then
+she began to speak in a voice so thin and weak that Mona could hardly
+recognize it.
+
+For some time they could make nothing of her words, and only tried to
+soothe her, but after a while it became clear to them that she was
+repeating something which sounded like poetry. Still they could make
+nothing out of it, for sometimes several words would be lost from a
+line, and occasionally a whole line would be repeated by those pale lips
+without a sound.
+
+At length Minnie caught a whole line. What the words were which went
+before she could not tell, but the words she caught came clear and
+distinct:
+
+  "It went up Single, Echoless,--'My God I am deserted.'"
+
+The words "Single, Echoless" were uttered with a strange sort of
+triumphant emphasis which struck both the girls, and then the feeble
+voice went on more brokenly even than before with a few lines more, and
+then suddenly ceased.
+
+Minnie repeated the line over.
+
+"I wonder what it is from," she said. "I am sure I have read it often,
+but I cannot remember where."
+
+"I can't tell just at this minute either," remarked Mona, "I know it
+perfectly well though. If we could only get hold of it, reading it to
+her might do her any amount of good."
+
+"That is just what I was thinking about," returned Minnie, "I wish we
+could find it."
+
+"I've got it!" exclaimed Mona, at last, with a suppressed shriek of
+triumph. "It's in Mrs. Browning."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+He looked very grave indeed on this occasion which was his third visit
+that day. A crisis, he said, would probably take place that night; he
+promised to come again before the time he expected it would occur; but
+held but very little hope as to its ultimate issue.
+
+When he arrived, Mabel was in a state of high delirium, and raved in a
+way which made Minnie pale with terror. After about half-an-hour of
+wild, disconnected raving, she became a little quieter, and at last
+settled down to the old habit of repeating verses--verses which Minnie
+now recognised as belonging to Mrs. Browning's poem on Cowper's Grave.
+
+She drew the doctor out into an adjoining room and explained to him the
+idea which had occurred to her in connection with Mabel's constant
+repetition of this poem, asking if he did not think it might have some
+good effect.
+
+"Well," he said, "I must tell you plainly that I am afraid it cannot
+have any good effect, but at any rate it cannot have any bad effect, and
+she is only wearing herself out more quickly as it is."--"Yes," he
+continued more kindly, noticing for the first time how young she was,
+and how terribly in earnest, "read it to her by all means. It will do
+_you_ good, and it cannot do her harm."
+
+She thanked him with tears in her eyes, and they both went back into the
+sick-chamber together.
+
+She had brought the book with her, so, turning at once to the place, she
+began to read in a low, soft tone, with slow and measured accents,
+well-suited to the subject and the measure as well as the purpose she
+had in view.
+
+At first it produced no visible effect, but she gradually became quieter
+as Minnie proceeded and the hopes of the watchers rose. She did not
+attempt to follow it at all till the line Minnie had caught so
+distinctly was reached, and then she repeated it after her in the same
+tone as before, and with the same triumphant emphasis on the words,
+"Single, Echoless."
+
+Then she went on with the lines following along with Minnie, her voice
+growing gradually weaker and weaker as she proceeded:--
+
+  "It went up from the holy lips amid His lost creation
+  That of the lost no one should use those words of desolation--
+  That earth worst frenzies, marring hope, might mar not hope's fruition."
+
+Here her voice died away, and she lay back with a long sigh of content.
+
+"She's conscious!" exclaimed Minnie in a whisper as she closed the book,
+"and the fever's gone. You said she would be safe--" and she stood with
+bated breath while the doctor bent over her.
+
+"Yes, the fever is gone," replied the doctor, "and she is safe--for
+ever."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+For some time Minnie could not bear to go near Hollowmell, so strongly
+did its associations with her lost friend move her. Her father took her
+away altogether for a while, and when she returned, though her grief was
+in no way lessened, it was so much softened that she could resume her
+work with a holier and tenderer interest in it, since it had been shared
+by one who was now an angel of light.
+
+There was also much sorrow felt among the inhabitants of Hollowmell, for
+Mabel had made for herself many friends there, and her quiet goodness
+made more impression than much of the activity which characterised the
+greater number of the young ladies.
+
+No one had thought very much about what Mabel was doing; the girls had
+shown deference to her mainly because Minnie did so; and so none knew
+how much good she had accomplished until it was too late to give her
+credit for it. Many of them, too, were astonished to find what a hold
+she had upon their hearts until death loosened it, and left in its stead
+a cord of love wherewith to draw them nearer Heaven.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hollowmell, by E.R. Burden
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