Dwell Deep

afraid to

town's against

continually bringing forward serious topics of conversation in my presence, and requesting me to give him my views on them. He never let me alone, and though I tried to keep out of his way, and say as little a

and it was only in the evening that he joined us all. His children, though fond of him, ne

ther than I had intended, and found myself at last on the edge of a wild moor. My thoughts were grave ones, but very happy ones; and as I gazed over the broad expanse of heather in front of me away into the blue dis

nutes' search I came upon a tiny boy crouched amongst the heather, grasping a bu

ooked up into my face an

e, lady; I wa

said. 'What is your name

sharp cry. 'My foots is hurted; I tu

ss what to do. He seemed about three or four years old, but a heavily built child, and my heart sank at the prospect of carrying him. Yet this was the only alt

on the moor; even the fresh breeze which I had so enjoyed in coming seemed to have disappeared, and every now and then I had to stop and rest. The child himself soon dropped asleep in my arms, and I became so tired myself

raordinary young person that we have had in these parts for a long time! Where have you picked up this small fry? Are you tak

fellow's arms from round my neck. 'I found him crying amongst the heather,

eamed when Kenneth took him, and with his little fist struck h

lied by you; I

his shoulder with calm i

d Roddy Walters; his mother keeps the small general shop, and Roddy keeps her pretty lively with his pranks. His last mania has been running

usted, and was greatly relieved to fin

ly I wa

le study on the mo

d quietly,

rather frivolous, isn't it, and a waste of precious time to be sau

of myself, 'I have been thinking, as I wal

a few moments' silence; 'the autumn manoeuvres are coming on, and every one round here k

t school,' I said, 'but I-

aw me out, and resolved to

heads, and their hearts, too, for the matter of that. I was telling that fellow Stroud to-day that if he means anyth

conclusions; but when Kenneth went on in the same strain declaring that Constance would

r. I think it is a shame of you to talk s

ill we had reached the small general shop. Mrs. Walters came out to us in a great state of exciteme

a chance, and last Sunday he breaks into my neighbour's chicken-house, and smashes a whole set of egg

o Sunday Scho

to the next parish; but it's two good miles, and my Roddy he can't walk so

eyes upon us, then suddenl

he callied me much ni

looked such a baby in his mother's

e were walking home. 'I wish there was a Sunday Sch

ed Kenneth gravely. 'Our old rector will l

e little ones, and those that can't walk as far as the bigger, s

I checked myself and said no more on th

rs. Forsyth was in a low wicker-chair with her work, Constance was pouring out tea, and Nelly was swing

ched. 'I have been hunting for you everywhere, Hilda. Lady Walker ha

ance, eyeing me, I felt, with disap

ad to rest, and Kenneth, leaning

urning over our depravity, and lamenting that she had no scope with us for all her benevolent projects, until she found herself out upon the moor, whereupon she looked round, and after a time found Roddy Walters asl

let him walk, Hilda?

was impossible; even your brother saw that, f

wickedness that the village children are in, that she is going to start a Sunday School herself next S

scholar,' said Cap

run on too fast,' said Mrs. Forsyth gently; '

ffing, but it has always been my way to speak

dy to Sunday School, and I said how much I wished I could have him to teach. It was Mr. Kenneth who sugges

everything above board here. We haven't much to amuse us, and so every one likes to know every one el

to go to some theatricals next Wednesday with the girls. I told her you had no engagement; you will e

oon, and perhaps being so tired helped to make me less willing to assert

kind of her

and they are going to have the stage out of doors. I wish I was going to take part

prayer for courage

Nelly; I do not care abou

you must keep your likes and dislikes in the background whilst with us about matters like this.' And taking up her work

hat Kenneth's eyes were upon me, yet feeling so uncertain of myself that I dared not speak. I think I was very near tears.

n we were out of hearing of the others,

Captain Gates said to me just now that you were not wanting in courage or straightforwardness; you spoke up well, Hilda; but I have warned you beforehand, you had much better, as mother says, keep your likes and dislikes to yourself. As Captain Gates was sa

; 'don't think me disobliging if I leave you now. I am so tired that I feel I ca

ur room and have a nap; you wil

life, doing as others did around me; how increasingly difficult I should find it, if I was continually setting myself up in opposition to all their plans and wishes for me! And yet in my heart I knew that unless I took a stand from the first, I should be drawn into a whirl of gaiety, such as I felt would not

Ghost, whom the Father will send in My

the former lusts in your ignorance.' 'Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.' 'Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.' As I sat there drinking in these messages, and dwel

what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say; for the Holy

I was quit