In the New Year it was quite evident to those who had much to do with the parish that there had arisen a feeling of discontent among some of the people, specially among members of the choir, as lately the Public Hall had been opened on Sunday evenings at 8 o'clock for what was termed a sacred concert, and the Vicar's long sermons prevented the men from getting to the Hall before the concert began; consequently as the place was packed they had to take back seats. When this came to Mrs. Stone's ears, she wondered if she could not help matters by giving Rachel a hint as to the way the wind was blowing. Consequently she went to see her one afternoon. The winter was passed, and the first flowers had arrived in Rachel's little garden. She insisted in calling her yard a garden, and had planted wild hyacinths as well as primroses to remind her of her home in the country. The hyacinths were beginning to show. Mrs. Stone found her looking down rather pensively at her few flowers. On hearing the door open Rachel called her visitor into the garden. "I am trying to imagine I am in the woods at home," she said laughing. "By now they must be a sheet of blue. In the distance it looks almost like a cloud of blue fallen to earth. I can't tell you how lovely it is." "How you must miss it," said Mrs. Stone. "There is compensation in all things," said Rachel gaily. She felt it would be fatal to give way to the overwhelming longing for home that these first Spring days were creating in her. She would not for the world that Mrs. Stone should guess that her whole soul was crying out for beauty and the sense of companionship. "But let us come and sit down. These poor little hyacinths can't mean to you what they mean to me. I'm glad you have brought your knitting." "Your husband is out this evening is not he?" "He is really out every night just now," said Rachel. "I hope the congregation realise that he is spending his life for them, and that his poor wife sits at home moping. Do you think they appreciate us properly?" she added. The question was asked in fun, but behind the words there lay an anxiety that had arisen lately in Rachel's heart. She had noticed an almost imperceptible change in the manner of some of the former ardent admirers of her husband. She had said nothing to Luke about it, as it was better that he should not be worried over the matter if he had not noticed it. "They would be extremely ungrateful if they didn't," said Mrs. Stone. "I have never met a harder worker than the Vicar. He spends his life for us all, as you say. And as for you, why I think it is often harder to sit at home and wait than to be in the thick of the battle. But they that looked after the stuff in David's time were to share the spoil. You see you keep him well and cheerful for us. I for one can't feel grateful enough to you."