Nuttie's Father

t time-'tis th

lasses and schools were the great objects and excitements of the week. A certain measure of hopeful effort and varying success is what gives zest to li

d taught, could not but be much more interesting to them than if they had been mere lookers on. Every cross on the markers, every flower on the altar cloth was the work of one or other of them; everything in the church was an achievement, and choir boys, school children, Bible cl

would permit, in the aisle, and, as she thought, staring hard at her mother. It was well that Mrs. Egremont's invariable custom was never to lift her eyes from her book or her harmonium, or she surely must have been disconcerted, her daughter thought, by the

usual under Miss Nugent's wing. It began with a children's service, and then ensued, in rooms at the factory, lent by Mr. Dutton, the tea

xchanging remarks and greetings with the other teachers of various calibres, the f

o late? No-there's no bell! Aunt Ursel! What has b

her, and speaking breathlessly, 'I came ou

ed Nuttie, r

uld send you.' Poor Miss Headworth gasped with agitation

it is! Oh Aunt Ursel, how could you leave her with him? I mus

grasping her. 'You know nothing abou

m into hers, for the poor old lady could hardly stand for trembling,

t Miss Headworth down in an easy-chair, where she recovered herself, under Mary's soothing care, enough to tell her story in spite of Nuttie's exclamations. 'Wai

t?' said Nuttie,

e poor child cared for him and tried to believe

s flashing. 'Why didn't you ask him h

me between husband and w

iss Headworth?' asked Mary, administer

e rose up-she did not know him at once, but he just said "Edda, my little Edda, sweeter than ever, I knew you at once," or something of that sort, and she gave one little cry of "I k

it, aunt, I hop

, "a lady to whom I owe more than I can express." Just as if I had done it for his sake.' Miss Nugent felt this open expression dangerous on account of the daughter, and s

tentions,' said Mary, putting as much

e spoke of the long separation,-said he had never been able to find her,

probably true,'

l traitor of a man, just like Marmion, or Theseus, or Lancelot, and now he is telling lies about it! Don't look at me. Aunt Ursel, they are li

ee stood aghast, as she stood with heaving chest, crimson cheeks, and big tea

bt, many more excuses for him than you know of, and as I found a few years ago that the people at Dieppe had lost the address that had been left with them, he must have found no traces of your mother there. You cannot understand the difficulties that

I can't,' mur

daughter, nor a Christian, to

elf-'tis for her,

e in existence. And as to your mother, whom you say you put first, what greater grief or pain can you give her th

oes back to him, I know h

both, and since he shows himself ready (as I understand from Miss Headworth that he is) to give her and you your proper position, you have nothing to do but to be t

e said, 'How can I be thankful? I don't want position or anything

t that you will find him very unlike all your imagination represents him, but let that be as it may, the fifth Commandment does not say, "Honour only thy good father," but, "Honour thy father." Come now, put on your g

Dutton!' excla

rudently let it pass unnoticed, only honouring in her heart the unselfishness and self-

have spoken as I did before the child, but I was so taken by surprise! Alice turned to him just as

for her that she c

what he is, and what she is! Oh, Mr

ff up the stairs,' said Mr. Dutton. 'But I daresay she is fasci

y a woman yet,'

tion, when she sees something unlike

but that they must go with him

,' said Mr. Dutton quietly, but Mary saw his fingers

I suppose he meant it. Heaven forgive me, if I am judging him too hardly, but I ver

roduce her to his family and friends as his wife, on equal terms? Otherwise, even if she were u

hen I saw that I was not wanted, but I heard him say something about h

, Mr. Mark Egremont,' said Ma

e all right. At any rate, there can be n

airly collapsed into bitter weeping over the uncertain future of those whom she had loved as her own children, and who now must leave he