Hetty Wesley

llege, Oxford; where in due course he took his degree, and whence he returned, in deacon's orders, to take charge of the endowed school at Epworth and to help in the

ad pleasant manners, a rotund figure not yet inclining to coarseness, a pink and white complexi

envy of her sisters until one fatal night when Romley, in the rectory parlour at Wroote, attuned his voice to sing the Vicar of Bray. In his study Mr. Wesley heard it. He, of all men, was no Vi

us Anne beca

of Englan

ce of thin

became

l Conform

their corresponding. Now Patty, the most literally minded of her sex, had a niggling obstinacy in pursuit of her ends. She would obey to a hair's breadth: but, nothing having been said about letters, letters

btusely, even sulkily, when Hetty hinted at her own secret and, pressing

poetical for me!

as dep

e," added Patty, looking lik

worth and Kelstein- nay, even spoke of her own clandestine meeting that very afternoon. Her cheeks glowed. Nor f

tell me that

f cours

her forb

sure

n the strength of her disapproval-"that I call i

ns! he forbade y

ot to

ith her pretty mouth

ose, he has forb

urse h

you going

ourse

to stare wide-eyed.

she asked

dismally, but sat upright after a moment. "As for your behaviour,

ster (as she was minded to do) she let the open palms f

ll him, dear. For in the fir

no g

t would make n

gasped Patty, her eyes involunt

t-Pat! don't be a goose. I shall not run away

!" Patty was reduced

uld not forgo this little slap. "Now wash your face, like a good girl, and come down to supper: and afterwards you

me that you can loo

ff, at the sound of ho

tty quietly, "if, as I think, he

know that Bounce brou

d the Rector usually

n of late to a filly

ed Hetty. "Nay, I should have recognised it on

girls arrived downstairs to learn from Mrs. Grantham that their father had rid

mfort without one) had conceived a desire to be waited on and have her hair dressed by a maid, and between Mrs. Grantham's inability to discover precisely what she wanted done by Patty

arguing out the whole case afresh. For, absurd though its logic was, it had touched her conscience. Was it conscience

ance, of comparing their lovers with him in respect of dignity or greatness. They assumed that their brothers inherited some portion of that greatness, but they required n

m vulgar chatter about titled, rich and far-off relatives; but, taking ancestry for granted, found sustenance enough in the daily life at the parsonage and the letters from Westminster and Oxford. Aware of some worth in themselves, they saw themselves pinched of food, exiled from many companions,

ut commanded. Hetty, for example, had an infinite capacity for self-sacrifice. At an appeal from him she would have surrendered, not small vanities only, but desires mo

t in its need. Hetty loved her lover. Perhaps, if allowed to fare abroad, consort with other girls, and lear

ce accused her. She had been trained religiously. Had sh

's loving-kindness, His pity, His indulgence. All generous natures lean towards this side, and to their honour, but at times also to their very great danger. For the austerity is meant for them who most need it. Also the