The Village by the River

terribly in earnest," said May Webster, softly s

r mother, looking

s afternoon; but, apparently, he and Mr. Lessing have come to grief already about it. There's another earnest one-wi

church-I suppose that that is his doing,-and to upset us all when we are quiet and happy. He's paying such high wages, they say, t

ight?" said May, returning t

ourse; he's a cle

go to the mee

o a school meeting! If there is one type of woman I dislik

at you would give Mr. Curzon your moral support, as your sympathies go wit

ost favourable interpr

my duty, May," she said, softening

g anyhow," interpo

to take a prominent part in paris

'm going as a disinterested spectator to

trated her mother

ts of voluntary versus board schools; but, as you say, a clergyman is always right-mos

en, and keep as we are, I suppose?" with a gl

, laughing. "Will it be considered unduly flippant on my part t

replied her mother, with unusual smartness. "Dear Mr. Curzon has really convinced me tha

your dress! All right, mother; I'll order the carriag

ere crowded to overflowing when May

re that I can stay," said Mrs.

to the bitter end," said May, in an un

s. May's skirt caught against a nail, as she followed, and Paul bent to set it free; but as May turned smiling to thank him, it gave her a fain

man has ever viewed me with honest dislike before

every movement. The cordial greeting she accorded the rector-so different from her bow to himself,-and the poise of her head, as she turned to look at the rows of expectant faces behind her, giving a smiling nod to Mrs. Macdonald

to such perfection; it's the assurance which beauty assumes. She ha

m, with his two churchwardens, was already on his feet, and

essary for us to discuss before. My people, I believe to a man, have been content to entrust the education of their children, the practical management of the school, to the churchwardens and myself, supporting us by their voluntary subscriptions; but a murmur has reached our ears that some of you are dissatisfied with this arrangement. My churchwardens and I feel reluctant to retain the management of the school unless fully ass

nd before the people. He was clever, and gifted with readiness of speech, but something in the audience baffled him; whether it was the stolid imperturbability of the faces in the back benc

of thinking, seemed to him, at the best, a one-sided arrangement; surely it was more just that a committee of men should be chosen by the votes of the people, and that every form of thought should find its exponent-thus keeping the balance of opinion even. Much more he said, and said it ably, ending with a strong appeal that each one there present, unbiassed by any cry of party, should think out this

ould give them the benefit of his opinion. There was a long silence. It was hoped that Allison would have something to say and one and another gave him a friendly nudge, but the blacksmith was too wise to co

like to tell you what's mine. Who should have care of the children but the man who loves 'em like his own, who goes reg'lar to see after 'em every day whilst we goes to work, who teaches 'em to be good at school and to mind what t

Macdonald unfolded her clean one and wiped happy tears from her eyes. She dated every event in after life from the

hands were counted in support of it, and only five were raised against it. The subscription list lay on the ta

ing's speech was very uncalled-for, and that old Macdonald really surprised me. I thought him a rude old man the only time I spoke to him, but to-night he was simply charming. I felt

as emptying rapidly. The squire stood apart but, catching

Webster; you've faced the bitter

bored at all," she answe

, in fact, and you

speaker, and I found him in Macdonald," said May, defiantly. "He

He spoke in pure jest, but May accepted his words literally and flushed a little. "It's a q

I spoke in the merest fun. I

ut of the way to say a disagreeable thing. People may think as many disagree

tted. I have not spoken to you for five minutes, and no other

when I came into the room: it bored you to render me even that very slight service

le apparently," said P

poken out her mind, "the platform seems vacant; shall we go and

d defeat, but I was glad of

y, as she mount

our to my side; I mad

myself, are credited with not having the capacity of thinking.

t country people are slow to exercise their individual judgment

dsome head, as he stood at a little distance off, talking with a happy, radiant face to her mother. "I wish y

lf, for he saw that May had passed fr

simple earnestness,-but it is his principle. And your very intolerance

th a quick change of mood. "Let us look at all the people

as headed by the rector

man," said May, p

be a poor one,

toyed with the pen wh

ficulty; I wa

aul. "If so, I

l rat

man who lives in the hearts of

For want of a better adviser I'l

for what it is worth; you need

to put my name down on this subscription list when

ruthfully disagreeable, I answer emphatical

influenced me is yourself. You implied that I was unwilli

the ink and wrote her name

that the dressmaker, who earns her money so hardly, a

re you never coming? I can't

he table. With a smothered exclamation Paul bent across her and tried to stay its fall, but he was not in time. With a crash it fell forwards breaking the bowl, and a trickling stream of blazing paraffin ran down May's muslin skirt, enveloping her in fla

nd, almost before May realized the extreme danger from which she had been de

ing to faint," she said, with lips that trembled a li

mire the girl's wonde

ned? You are sure yo

rvellous quickness

s at hand, and Paul felt he could not do b

fully battling with the burning stream of paraffin; and in

had taken their departure. "We can't be too thankful for such a narrow escape. The platform lo

her hand as she got up from the table. Sh

a cinder. But it does not signify; people w

name and scratched it out at my request," thought Paul, not a

get back before my little Kitty gets news of the fire, or she will worry

d. "We know that Mi

ed the rector, simply. "And if sh

that you are all right, in case Kitty

room heard the rector's cheery voice

and ask him to come up and see me f

he entered, foll

Have you been burned and not tol

burned, nor scared, nor horrible to look at, that I want Mr. Curzon. I wa

ly. And he and May's mother knelt dow

om his knees May's