"To the loving Father who watches over us all, to the sympathizing Saviour who endured temptation and want that He might know how to help us, to the gracious Spirit, who is ready to lead us into every good way, I then committed them, and we separated. "I forgot to tell you that I was persuaded in the course of the evening to sing a comic song, which I learned while in New York. Of course this 'brought down the house.' How would my dear little Ethel have looked could she have seen me?" In another letter he said:— "I have conversed with many clergymen and other Christians of ripe experience on this same subject of amusement. All classes of persons, with rare exception of peculiar individuals, agree that some relaxation is necessary to a healthful state of body and mind. If no innocent and proper amusements are provided, young and old, rich and poor, will seek entertainments for themselves, and too often these will be the lowest class of theatres, shows, etc. "Let Christian parents and teachers make it a part of the business of education to provide suitably for this want of our nature, and these objectionable, immoral places would have to be closed for want of patronage. In the neighborhood of the church where was the entertainment I have described, a low theatre of the worst description had been abandoned, simply because the ground was occupied in a worthier way. I am looking forward to inaugurating some plan of this kind, and I confidently expect help from a merry girl from whom I purchased my first pair of gloves in Grantbury." [Illustration: SHE WAS FINISHING A LETTER TO SEND BY THE STEAMER, WHEN DR. ROSS WAS ANNOUNCED. Page 349] CHAPTER IX. TRUE FRIENDSHIP. IT was a sultry August day. Most of Miss Howard's acquaintances were out of the city. She had just returned from Grantbury, and was finishing a letter to send by the steamer, when Dr. Ross was announced. "One minute, Doctor," pleaded Marion, sealing her letter and ringing for James to take it to the post; "now I will have a glass of lemonade for you in a trice." "I met Hepsey," he said, "or I should not have known you were at home." "Your call is very opportune, sir," said Marion smiling, as she added, "I want to ask about Annie Leman. Is she as good a teacher as you expected?" "Next to yourself, Miss Howard," bowing formally, "I do not know her equal." "Then you will add your influence to mine to secure for her the position I am about to resign in Mrs. La Vergne's school?" "With great pleasure, if you will promise for Miss Leman that she will still teach my daughters. But why do you resign?" Marion had more than once asked herself whether she were treating her father's old friend with sufficient frankness in not telling him of her engagement to Mr. Angus; and now his question gave her the opportunity to do so; so with rosy cheeks she said,— "I'm going to leave the city before long." "Not permanently, I hope?" "I am going to be married, Doctor." "Wh-e-e-w-w!"