"My dear," said her mother, on her return, "how long you have been; and

what am I to give for the water-colour?"

"Oh, I forgot all about the water-colour; but never mind what we give,

mamma, it is all to go to an asylum for educating poor girls, and giving

them some resource beyond that weary lace-making--the very thing I have

always longed for. He is coming to settle it all with me to-morrow, and

then we will arrange what to give."

"Indeed, my dear, I hope it will be something well managed. I think if

it were not for those middle-men, lace-making would not be so bad. But

you must not keep poor Miss Williams waiting."

Ermine had never seen Rachael in such high spirits as when they set out

through the network of lanes, describing her own exceeding delight in

the door thus opening for the relief of the suffering over which she had

long grieved, and launching out into the details of the future good

that was to be achieved. At last Ermine asked what Rachel knew of the

proposer.

"Captain Keith, heard he was a distinguished professor and essayist."

"Then I wonder we have not heard his name," said Ermine. "It is a

remarkable one; one might look in the 'Clergy List' at Villars's."

"Villars called him a clerical gentleman," mused Rachel.

"Then you would be sure to be able to find out something about him

before committing yourself."

"I can see what he is," said Rachel, "a very sensible, accomplished man,

and a great deal more; not exactly a finished gentleman. But that is no

objection to his doing a great work."

"None at all," said Ermine, smiling; "but please forgive me. We have

suffered so much from trusting too implicitly, that I never can think

it safe to be satisfied without thorough knowledge of a person's

antecedents."

"Of course," said Rachel, "I shall do nothing without inquiry. I will

find out all about him, but I cannot see any opening for distrust.

Schemes of charity are not compatible with self-seeking and dishonesty."

"But did I not hear something about opinions?"

"Oh, as to that, it was only Villars. Besides, you are a clergyman's

daughter, and your views have a different colouring from mine. Modern

research has introduced so many variations of thought, that no good

work would be done at all if we required of our fellow-labourers perfect

similarity of speculative belief."

"Yet suppose he undertook to teach others?"

"The simple outlines of universal doctrine and morality which are

required by poor children are not affected by the variations to which

investigation conducts minds of more scope."

"I am afraid such variations may often reach the foundation."

"Now, Miss Williams, I am sure you must often have heard it observed how

when it comes to real practical simple teaching of uninstructed people,

villagers or may be heathens, the details of party difference melt away,

and people find themselves in accordance."




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