‘Why, Mrs. Dulcimer has just been praising your usefulness,’ said Cyril, kindly, a kindness that fluttered Bella’s heart with baseless hopes. ‘She has been telling me how much you do for your mother and sisters.’ ‘Oh yes,’ replied Bella, carelessly, ‘of course I try to be useful at home. I work for my own family. But that is such an obvious duty, and there is a pleasure in doing those things that is almost self-indulgence.’ What a different story Adolphus and Bertie could have told about Bella’s black looks when she had to sew on buttons for them! ‘What I should like would be to do some good for the poor, those wretched creatures for whom you do so much. My mornings are all occupied in teaching--but I have my afternoons to myself,--and I think I could spare three afternoons a week, if you would show me how I could be useful--in visiting and reading, or teaching the children.’ ‘You are very good,’ said Cyril, thoughtfully, ‘and I like you for having such a thought. But I really don’t know what to say. I have several kind ladies who help me.’ ‘Who run after you, you should say,’ thought Bella, savagely. ‘Forward minxes.’ ‘And really I hesitate at the idea of withdrawing you from a home in which you are so useful. For after all, your mother, with her numerous family, has as much need of sympathy----’ ‘As those horrid rheumatic old women,’ thought Bella. ‘I should think so, indeed.’ ‘In short, my dear Miss Scratchell, your present life seems to me so usefully and wisely employed, that I can hardly bring myself to propose any alteration.’ ‘Perhaps you think that I should be of no use in the parish work,’ suggested Bella. ‘Believe me, no. Indeed, I think, with your taste and handiness, and industrious habits, you might be of much use. The poor are often sadly deficient in taste and neatness, and the power to make the best of things. If you could go among the younger people, and show them how to be neat and tasteful in their homes, and in their dress, to make the best of their small resources, to cultivate the beauty of cleanliness and tidiness--if you could show them how much beauty there is to be got out of the simplest things--in a word, if you could elevate their taste----’ said Mr. Culverhouse, with vague yearnings after sweetness and light. ‘Yes, I am sure you could be useful, as an apostle of the beautiful.’ Bella’s face crimsoned with a happy blush. Her whole being thrilled with triumph. She took this as a compliment to herself. He thought her beautiful. Mrs. Dulcimer was right. He loved her, and in good time would tell her of his love. ‘Tell me where to go, and what to do,’ she said, in a voice that trembled with joyful feeling. ‘I will make out a list of people. I shall not send you among the very poor, or to those who would pester you for money. I will send you into homes where there are young people, where sympathy and kindly interest in small things will be of use.’