Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The Little Missis" By Charlotte Skinner _Author of "Doctor Phill," "The Master's Messages to Women," etc._ With Six Illustrations LONDON S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO. LTD. OLD BAILEY [Illustration: "'SEE HOW CAREFULLY HE IS HELPING HER OUT OF THE CAB.'"] CONTENTS I. HIS PURPOSE II. THE HOME-COMING III. A GARDEN LEVÉE IV. A TESTING TIME V. WILL GOD ANSWER? VI. THE DARKNESS DEEPENS VII. THE LAME SHEPHERD VIII. A TWOFOLD PARTNERSHIP IX. A WOMAN'S WHIMS X. A GATHERED FLOWER XI. IS GOD GOOD? XII. THE STONE THROWN IN THE WATERS XIII. LOVE'S HOSPITAL XIV. AN UNFORTUNATE ENCOUNTER XV. JOY-MISSIONARIES XVI. THE CALL OF DEBORAH XVII. THE GOING FORTH OF DEBORAH XVIII. HER NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR XIX. THE NEW CLUB-ROOM XX. A STRANGE KIND OF PREACHING XXI. PARTNERS! XXII. LIGHT ON THE PATHWAY XXIII. LOYAL LOVE XXIV. RECOGNISED XXV. BESSIE COMES TO THE RESCUE XXVI. THE HOME-COMING XXVII. RALPH STARTS ON ANOTHER JOURNEY XXVIII. OLIVE LEAVES AND LAUREL LEAVES XXIX. CROWNED WITH JOY LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS "'See how carefully he is helping her out of the cab.'" "Phebe was in the shop taking a general look round" "'Bessie, you are to tell me right out what is troubling you'" "'Let us put this cold-blooded letter on the fire'" "She caused the cup with its contents to fall into Phebe's lap" "He was standing on the pavement, looking a sad, solitary figure" "THE LITTLE MISSIS" CHAPTER I HIS PURPOSE Creak--creak--creak! went the old mangle--one of the box sort, weighted with stones. "Are you dreadfully busy, Mrs. Colston?" called out a clear, young voice. "Bless me, is that you, Miss Phebe?" and the mangle was suddenly silent. "No, I'm not dreadfully busy, and in two minutes I was going to make myself some tea; and if you----" "Oh, won't I, rather! I should just think I will, you dearie; and I'll get it ready, too, while you play your last tune on your old organ." Creak, creak, went the mangle, clatter went the cups, and in less than ten minutes the two were seated at a little round three-legged table enjoying tea and talk. "Can't think what's the matter with you to-day, Miss Phebe. Have you got a new dress on, or have you been doing something to your complexion, or what is it?" asked Mrs. Colston, looking very intently across the table. "I have got my old dress on, and have not even washed my face in dew." "Well, then, what is it?--Ah, I know! you've fallen in love." "Yes, I fell in love with you a long time ago," answered her visitor demurely; "but I see you've guessed my secret, you are so clever. The fact is, I have got two secrets to tell you. I wonder which I should bring out first!"