Margaret's explanation had silenced the critic. The true followers of Christ repent their failures, while their grief is often hidden from the eyes of man. But the Lord lifts up the fallen and gives strength for the needs of the battle, not only for to-day, but until the warfare is over, and then the servant of God enters into the presence of his King, and in _His righteousness_ is presented _faultless_ before His Father's Throne. It is just a wonderful religion--glorious, all-satisfying to the inner cravings of every restless heart--so Margaret Woodford had found it, and her little work of gratitude and returned love just went on day by day, like the stone which is cast into still waters, and causes the ripples to extend and overlap until they come to the edge of the surface, and touch the land. Thus the little words, little actions, done for Christ's sake will pass on and on until they find their consummation in eternity, in that country from which comes the promise, "I will not forget your work and labour of love which ye have showed for My Name's sake." And this message of love and mercy Margaret carried in different ways to all the inmates of Oaklands, even into the seclusion of Mrs. Medhurst's life. It was not an easy matter to approach the latter, but, finding her one day in an abandonment of grief, Margaret knelt down by her side, and with real sympathy just drew her towards the secret of eternal rest. Mrs. Medhurst had listened to all she said and had not been offended, and from that day onwards it became a little added work to spend half an hour, or sometimes an hour, in reading and talking to her employer of the things she loved. "And you can forgive me? Forgive what I did, and come to me like this!" had been Lucille Medhurst's astonished cry. "Miss Woodford, if ever I can believe as you do, it will be because I see your religion is a _reality_," she had said. "It will be by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mrs. Medhurst," was Margaret's answer, "for we cannot come unto God except by Him, and He draws all who are willing." So the little work of a daily ministry went on at Oaklands. * * * * * "Miss Woodford, may I show you something?" said Bob, as he entered the schoolroom one day at the close of a cold winter's afternoon and found Margaret and Ellice busy working, sitting by a lovely log fire which spluttered and sent out lively sparks as the flame travelled up the chimney. "Oh, I say, it is jolly warm here!" exclaimed the boy, as he flung himself down by the hearth. "I am tired, I can tell you. It's a big trudge up the hill after the train gets in." "Oh, yes--don't I know? I remember my first drive here. Shall I ever forget it?" laughed Margaret. "I wondered whenever I was coming to the end; it seemed a tremendous distance in the dark. But never mind that, you said you had something to show us----" "Yes, what is it?" broke in Ellice eagerly.