Monica's Choice

had been trying to make up arrears in his correspondence that morning. At his elbow lay his well-worn Bible, open, for very few of his l

athy. Mr. Drury had only been Vicar of St. Paul's, Osmington, for a couple of years, but he had won the love and respect of all his clerical brothers in the neighbourhood, although their doctrinal opinions widely differed; his was such a singularly attractive personality. His church-workers felt no work was tedious or uphill, for was not their vicar inter

case which had just been brought to his notice by a note from one of the district-visitors, and he decided to ask her advice. He strode across the stud

s combed smoothly back from her broad white brow. Her blue serge dress was enveloped in a large holland apron, for she was on housekeeping work intent that morning; indeed, her hands bore traces of some floury substance which she was emptying when the vicar called her. Her br

ed an arm-chair forward, "there is a very sad

case in point, and as the vicar had expected, Mrs. Drury's

this afternoon," he said, as his wi

with the happy lot of her own little daughter. "Thank God my precious Amethyst has her eyesight," she murmured; and th

daughter to return from school, while the housemaid laid the table for dinner. Very soon she descried a trim little figure, clad in scarlet, hastening along the

" she cried, breathl

kisses upon the upturned face, all quivering with the exciteme

ranklyn, and Gipsy Monroe and a lot of others have

saying: "You shall tell me your news presently, darling, but now yo

about her neck, accentuated the appearance of fragility. Her scarlet frock was almost hidden by the white overall pinafore which her mother sensibly insisted upon her wearing indoors, and which really added to the charm of her appearance.

been said he began to carve the joint of roast

an they did with Miss Hemming; I've brought home a lot for to-morrow," and Amethy

immediately informed of the change of class. "You cannot hope to be so high in this form as y

m going to try hard to get near the top of this class by the time the reports come out," said Amethyst, a

Mrs. Drury gently, but firmly; "father and I want you to do your very best to learn well,

clear grey eyes met her mother's unfalteringly. "There are several girls who are really clever, in my

, with a smile. "If you have more trouble to learn than they do, you

ydenham. Her name is Monica Beauchamp. I don't thin

said her mother; "she may be a v

ghter, positively, "she seems so off-hand; and once or twice s

rhaps it would be wiser not to make a close friend of this Monica, just at present, but always be kind and court

is morning, and some elderly person was with her. I thought perhaps it was her mother or aunt, although she didn't look a very kind on

hter of Mrs. Beauchamp, of Carson Rise," remarked M

d she had had four daily governesses, and she wouldn't obey one of them. That's why her grandmother has sent her t

e will not discuss this Monica's misdeeds, Amethyst, we have plenty of fau

om spoke in so severe a tone, her rule was rather one of love. But she had a great aversion to

or a poor old woman, who used to attend her mothers' meeting. Amethyst amused herself with alternately talking to the canary, whose cage hung in one of the sunny windows, and

y will take me a good long time to-day?" she

Drury, as she sewed on the last button, and folded up her work. "I

up with alacrity. "I like going to see your dear littl

dear. But come, let us g

y different surroundings. Long rows of tenement houses looking on to the ugly brick buildings which comprised the iron foundry where most of the husba

come in." And bidding Amethyst follow her, she turned the rickety handle and entered the squalid-looking house. For a moment it was so dark after the bright sunlight o

nterior of the room, and Mrs. Drury led Amethyst, who was somewhat shy o

nquired sympathetically, as she gently shook th

he only available chair up to the side of the poor miserable bed, and Amethyst found a little wooden footstool, upon which she

or old body the better to feast her eyes on the pretty picture, but a low moan of pain escaped her lips. "'Ti

and who looks after you, Mrs. Robbi

, I haven't had any medicine for a good bit now, it don't seem much use like. But there, ma'am, the Almighty is wonderful g

r as you do," was Mrs. Drury's gentle repl

o nothing as'll make you shamed for God Almighty to see, and you may depend upon it, He'll look to it that you never want.' Sometimes, when I was young and fool

aid Mrs. Drury, as she opened her little

iful description given by St. John of the New Jerusalem, where there shall be no m

she drank in the comforting promises; "we'll not remember

hymn for Mrs. Robbins," said Mrs. Drury, to her lit

me be, ma'am?" enquired the o

ile. "An unusual one, isn't it? but her f

," said Mrs. Robbins; "one of all they long-named thi

rence of the drink which is such a curse to our land. We want our little

city bright,' mumsie? Wou

, girlie," and Mrs. Drury took one of the white-gloved hands in her own, and held

is a ci

e its gat

that de

that de

er ent

, I come

of God,

me and

me and

l my si

e me, from

ing chi

y Thy

y Thy

that grie

the sno

edeemed

s and st

s and st

that hap

gratefully, as the last word died away. "And thank y

ortable loose gown for you to use, either when you sit up again, or i

as she saw the nice grey woollen wrapper, and fe

od Almighty bless and reward

Amethyst open the door, and in a moment more th