Rest?" when I tell you I believe there are many who read this paper who will give some help. It is then, designed for the tired and worn-out teachers and workers in the districts where the Sisters themselves work. Many, or perhaps most of these, are Guild girls, some are teachers in the different schools, some are machinists, who after having arranged and put together a difficult dolman or mantle, and doing all the work but the finishing parts, receive as payment the sum of 4d.; others are in the shoe trade, some of these girls, besides having to maintain themselves, have also to help toward the maintenance of their parents. We most of us know, (some by personal experience,) how a week, or a fortnight in the country, especially by the sea, will brace the over-worked and enfeebled body, and give new life and energy to the anxious and overstrained brain; twelve months of hard work, with no change but an occasional trip for one day, and that at very long intervals, will tell upon the strongest frame, and the brightest spirits will at length sorely flag. Will you then, dear friends, come to our aid? the sum required is really not very alarming, it is thought between £50 and £60 will cover the expenses. A nice little house at Herne Bay has been fixed upon, which the Sisters think will meet their requirements exactly. Beach Cottage is only separated from the shore by the road, so that its inmates will have the benefit of perpetual sea breeze. It has sittingroom, kitchen, &c., and four bed-rooms, these latter will accommodate of course more than one person, and the whole house is already furnished, and seems in all respects to be desired. It has been ascertained that the little house may be obtained from May 1st to the end of September; this then will be a trial, for it is hoped that eventually a small permanent Home may be established; but now I earnestly ask you to help us. It must be distinctly understood that this is to be no Convalescent Home, but simply and truly a "Home of Rest,” for those who desire and really need a week or a fortnight's thorough change and rest; also that the house being so very small no outsiders can be admitted, it is for those really working in the Sisters' parishes. For those who can afford it 9s. a week will be asked, this will not of course include wine or extras, but everything else will be provided; but then there are some, I am afraid many, who perhaps will not be able to pay more than 3s. a week, and yet perhaps these, on that very account, will be the persons most needing the benefits of the Home. I then ask you to send your contributions large or small, to SISTER HELEN, S. Saviour's Priory, 20, Great Cambridge St., Hackney Road, E.; or to Miss TYTE, Woodside, Cambridge Park, Twickenham; either of whom will gratefully acknowledge them. Notices to Correspondents. Beatrix. It cannot unfortunately be questioned that Wesleyans are schismatics, in whose worship true members of the Church may not consistently join, although they for the most part do their best to be orthodox in doctrine. A Lover of the Churchman's Companion. During the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism it is right to turn to the priest when he is addressing the people, and towards the Altar at the recital of the Creed and Thanksgiving, and all such portions of the service as are addressed to Almighty GOD. Miss Edith Little is requested to send her address. MR. Raynham hurriedly introduced Frances to his sisters and then left the room. She found herself confronted by two elderly ladies of decidedly warlike aspect, their dresses of iron-grey silk were so stiff and so tight-fitting, that they irresistibly conveyed the impression of suits of armour, and this was heightened by the fact that the caps of the same material which they wore, stood up from their heads very much in the shape of steel helmets; their countenances were exactly alike, with heavy features, cold grey eyes, and a very grim expression, but there was more power in Miss Hannah Raynham's face than in that of her sister Priscilla, younger by a year only, who evidently looked up to her with awe and reverence, and echoed all her sentiments in the conversation which followed, somewhat after the fashion of a Greek chorus. The ladies were engaged in laying out the books for a Scripture lesson, which Frances had been in the habit of giving the factory girls at that hour, and for which she had come as usual a few minutes before the time when they would assemble for it, and they did not long leave her in doubt of their intentions to deprive her of all such occupations for the future. Miss Raynham addressed her at once without asking her to sit down. "Miss Amherst, we did not apprize you this morning of our presence here in time to save you from your unnecessary walk to this house, because we thought it best to have a distinct explanation with you, which should prevent your ever supposing henceforward that you could be at all required in it. We beg to state,—my sister and I, —that we have come to reside permanently with our brother, in order to take charge of his house, his afflicted wife, and all his works and charities, for which duties we, and we alone, are the proper persons." "The proper persons," echoed Miss Priscilla. Frances flushed hotly, but, perfect lady as she was, her manner was quite gentle and calm as she answered, "Of course that is a natural arrangement, if your brother prefers it, but I believe he has wished me to assist him here, mainly because he thought I was doing poor Mrs. Raynham a great deal of good by the music, of which she seemed to be conscious." "She was nothing of the kind. Both the nurse and the doctor laughed at the idea of her being supposed to have even heard it. She is not better, but is growing worse every day, and instead of doing good you have done nothing but harm, by raising hopes in my brother's mind which you knew to be false." "Knew to be false," said Priscilla. "Miss Raynham!" exclaimed Frances, utterly bewildered by such an accusation. "Yes, you know best what motive has made you attach yourself to this house and its master, but we have clearly explained the undesirableness of such an extraordinary arrangement to my brother, and he sees it now as plainly as we do, and has requested us to take sole charge of all the works with which you were in any way connected. We are experienced in teaching, in ministering to the poor, and in attendance on the sick, and therefore there would be no room for you here, even if it were not imperative that you should abstain from frequenting the house for your own sake." "Yes, yes, for your own sake," said the echo, solemnly shaking her head. "What can you mean, Miss Raynham ?" said Frances, fixing her clear, candid eyes, wide open with astonishment, on Miss Hannah. "I should think my meaning was sufficiently obvious," she answered grimly; "of course your conduct in leaving your home and your parents to spend your days here must be commented upon by all who know either my brother or yourself, and the only motive to which it can be assigned would be detrimental to any young woman. Mrs. Raynham is dying, and when my brother is once more free he will be a most eligible match." "Most eligible match," ejaculated Priscilla, raising her hands emphatically. At last Frances understood that to which her own natural refinement had rendered her blind during their previous speeches, and for a moment it seemed to her impossible to control the tempest of fierce scorn and indignation which surged within her and might have found expression in most scathing words, but she felt that the women who had not feared thus to insult her were in no sense of the term ladies, and she was too thorough a gentlewoman to lower herself by any dispute with them. She therefore merely looked from the one to the other, her eyes blazing with a pure fire they could not fail to understand, and which made them wince in spite of themselves, and then bowing to them without offering her hand, she quietly said, "Good morning," and walked out of the room. She had passed the threshold of the house, which she felt she would rather die than ever cross again, when she saw Mr. Raynham standing on the steps, evidently waiting for her. It is to be feared that she wished him at the bottom of the sea. The false halo her strong sympathy with his griefs and his benevolence had shed round him had vanished, leaving him to appear only as the humiliating spectacle of a man in full possession of his faculties, who was weak enough to be in entire subjection to women, and she was provoked with herself for having been so completely mistaken in him. She would have avoided him if she could, but it was not possible. He came up to her at once. ઃઃ Miss Amherst," he said, stammering in his extreme embarrassment, "I cannot let you go without thanking you,—without telling you, without saying,—I mean, I am deeply grieved; but my sisters know the world, they are doubtless right,-only I grieve-I cannot express myself as I could wish." "I think you had better not try, Mr. Raynham," said Frances, somewhat haughtily, "it is not in the least necessary. I have only to take leave of you, and to hope that poor Mrs. Raynham may yet recover." She took a purse from her pocket and put it into his hand. "This is the balance of the money you gave me to distribute among your poor pensioners. I should have sent it to you had I not seen you now," she continued with an emphasis, which he saw she intended ss an intimation that he would not be admitted if he called at her home." This is the day when some of them would have expected me to bring them their allowance, but I will let them know that they will receive it from your sisters henceforward, and that I shall not visit them any more." Then with a grave salutation which made him feel that he dared not accompany her to the gate, she passed him and speedily disappeared. It was late that dark November day before Frances finally returned home. She knew that many of the poor and sick whom she had been in the habit of visiting constantly as Mr. Raynham's almoner, would think her very unkind and neglectful if she deserted them completely without any explanation, and she was therefore anxious to see them all for the last time that same day, in order to tell them that it would be no longer in her power to care for them. She went home at dinner time that her parents might not miss her from the table, but as Thorold was present she said nothing to them of the change which would bring her back to their society, and hurried out again to complete the round of visits, which if not finished then could not be done at all, determined as she was to risk no further encounter with any of the Raynham family. It was evening when at last she reached home, quite tired out, and found her father in the sitting-room alone with Thorold, who was reading aloud to him. This was a most unusual sight, and Frances asked anxiously where her mother was. "She did not feel well and has gone to bed," said Mr. Amherst. "She tried to read the 'Guardian' to me, but seemed so confused and sleepy over it, that she gave it up and went to lie down. Thor heard her go to her room, and came to see, most kindly, if he could be of any use to me." "Taking my place," thought Frances, with a pang of remorse, and she gave her cousin a grateful look, which he evidently understood. "I must go and see if dear mother wants me," she said, and flew up stairs to Mrs. Amherst's room. She found her not attempting to sleep, but lying under the light of a shaded lamp near her, gazing out into vacancy with a dull, dreamy look in her eyes. "Oh, darling mother, are you ill?" said Francie, bending over her anxiously. "No, dear, only tired and weak." Then she turned towards Frances and repeated the words she had used in the morning, as if they had been never absent from her mind. |