"We keep the text you gave us on our wall, and read it over very often. I have found it true many a time. You remember it, do you not? "'God is our Refuge and Strength—a very present help in time of trouble.' "We have proved Him that, and daily He is my strength, as He says. "You will excuse this long letter; but it is so nice to be allowed to talk to you. I often think of the home above, where I shall, through God's forgiving mercy, meet you; for He has cast all my sins into the depths of the sea. "With our very kind respects, and my and Charlie's love— "Yours most gratefully, "Clementina Wood." "Poor thing," said Walter. "She is happy though, now?" asked Ada. "Yes; but oh, Ada! It must be dreadful to have such a past to look back upon," said Christina. "We have all plenty to regret," answered Ada, sighing. "Heigho!" said Arthur, "I have only a week more holiday, I declare, and then I must grind, grind, again." "Is 'walking the hospitals,' 'grinding'?" asked Cecil. "I should say so," said Arthur, "just." "It isn't my idea of it," said Cecil, and the elders laughed, while Arthur was not sure whether he was being made fun of; but Cecil looked so stolidly at him after his remark, that he concluded to let the matter drop. "We shall all have to 'grind' soon," said Walter. "So you will," said Dolly; "for besides your business, you're always going out preaching to children." "Not always, Dolly, or poor Christina would see nothing at all of me." He seated himself by his wife, and began playing with her knitting ball. She removed it from his fidgety fingers smilingly, and said, "Yes, life is busy to us all, isn't it, Nellie?" "Yes," answered Nellie, "very; but I for one am not quite so busy as I used to be." "And I am more busy than I ever was," said Christina. "Of course with those 'blessed infants,'" said Arthur. "You know you love them dearly, Arthur," said Netta. "You do?" "I don't pretend to deny it," she answered. "Oh, well.—When is tea coming, Nellie?" "In a few minutes. You are hungry, I suppose." "Don't you think six miles has earned an early tea?" "I will ring; but you know the water doesn't boil till five." She laughed; and when the little maid came, she suggested that all had come back hungry. "I'll see 'm; I'll tell misses, 'm. The kettle do nearly boil, 'm." After tea, most of the young party proposed to go to meet Dr. Arundel. Nellie said she was rather tired, and would sit in the garden instead, and bear Tom company. Tom, however, felt chilly, and soon wheeled himself into the sitting-room, which was particularly convenient, as the French door opened to the garden without a step of any kind.