One night, the gravestone bearing the name of Buckstone disappeared from the cemetery; but another, with the name of Edward Goodwin, was placed at the head of the grave. Dick Birch did this work, so that no questions were asked, no unpleasant remarks made. Master John Hungerford, Miss Mary Hungerford, and Master Eugene Hungerford Birch are by far the most important personages at Pine Hill. Johnnie has passed safely through the measles, but Eugene H. B., on account of a little vein of obstinacy, probably inherited from his mother, refused to take them, though Mrs. Hungerford, senior, went over to “the other house” every day, in order to take the bull by the horns in good season. But the children are all doing well, and being treated to an abundance of fresh air we doubt not in due time Master John Hungerford will be a _millionnaire_. “Eugene, I think I am a great deal happier than I deserve to be,” said Mary, one evening after she had put the little ones to bed, and seen them both drop off into the slumber of innocence. “You are happy because you are good, Mary.” “Have you never repented taking me?” “Repented! I have never ceased to rejoice that you are mine.” “I owe all my happiness in this world to you.” “No; to the Good Father, who gives it to you because you are so true and good.” “But to you as His minister. I tremble when I think what I might have been without you, Eugene.” “My joy has been greater than yours.” “I was cast out, despised, loathed.” “But you did not deserve it.” “=IT WAS THE WAY OF THE WORLD.=” TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. Emboldened text is surrounded by equals signs: =bold=. Perceived typographical errors have been corrected. Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.