"Ay, it is none so difficult to paint black white," saith Aunt _Joyce_. "'Tis alway the self-lovers that cry out upon the unkindliness of other folks. And thou art one of them, _Nell_, my maid, that be prone to reckon that must needs be right which goes against the grain. There be that make self-denial run of all fours in that fashion. They think duty and pleasure must needs be enemies. Why, child, they are the best friends in the world. Only _Duty_ is the elder sister, and is jealous to be put first. Run thou after _Duty_, and see if _Pleasure_ come not running after thee to beseech thee of better acquaintance. But run after _Pleasure_, and she'll fly thee. She's a rare bashful one." "Then you count it not wrong that one should desire to be happy, _Aunt_?" "The Lord seems not to count it so, _Nell_. He had scarce, methinks, told us so much touching the happiness of Heaven, had He meant us to think it ill to be happy. But remember, maid, she that findeth her happiness in God hath it alway ready to her hand; while she that findeth her happiness in this world must wait till it come to seek her." "I would I were as good as _Father_!" said I; and I believe I fetched a sigh. "Go a little higher, _Nell_, while thou art a-climbing," quoth Aunt _Joyce_. "`I would I were as good as _Christ_.'" "Eh, _Aunt_, but who could?" said I. "None," she made answer. "But, _Nell_, he that shoots up into the sky is more like to rise than he that aims at a holly-bush." "Methinks _Father_ is higher than I am ever like to get," said I. "And if thou overtop him," she made answer, "all shall see it but thyself. Climb on, _Nell_. Thou wilt not grow giddy so long as thine eyes be turned above." I am so glad that Aunt _Joyce_ seeth thus touching _Nym_! SELWICK HALL, OCTOBER YE II. There goeth my first two pence for a blank week. In good sooth, I have been in ill case to write. This weary _Nym_ would in no wise leave me be, but went to _Anstace_ and _Hal_, and gat their instance [persuaded them to intercede] unto _Father_ and _Mother_. Which did send for me, and would know at me if I list to wed with _Nym_ or no. And verily, so bashful am I, and afeared to speak when I am took on the sudden thus, that I count they gat not much of me, but were something troubled to make out what I would be at. Nor wis I what should have befallen (not for that _Father_ nor _Mother_ were ever so little hard unto me, good lack! but only that I was stupid), had not Aunt _Joyce_ come in, who no sooner saw how matters stood than she up and spake for me.