ity for doing many
things never undertaken at other seasons. So Gershom folks were busy
with special arrangements of one sort and another for pleasure and
profit, and Mr Maxwell made himself busy with the rest. Winter was the
time for special courses of lectures and sermons, for social gatherings
among the people of the congregation, and for a good deal more of
regular pastoral visiting than was ever undertaken by him at other
seasons, and it was with satisfaction, even with thankfulness, that he
found himself looking forward without dread to his work.

A quiet and busy winter lay before him. Of course there must be the
usual anxieties and vexations, he thought; and he also thought that he
would have the kindly counsel and sympathy of Miss Elizabeth. But after
his first visit to the squire's house a difference made itself apparent
in their intercourse. It was not that Miss Holt was less friendly or
less ready with counsel or encouragement when it was needed. But there
was something wanting, and what this might be he set himself to consider
on that night after his walk in the snowy fields.

He did not discover it, but he discovered something else which startled
him--something which could neither be helped nor hindered--something
which could only be borne silently and patiently. Through time and a
loyal devotion to the work which his Master had given him to do, the
pain should wear away.

In one of the long letters which Mr Maxwell received about this time
from Miss Langden, there came, to his surprise and momentary
discomfiture, a little note to Miss Holt. He knew that Miss Essie was
very fond of writing little notes to her friends and also to the friends
of her friends, and when he came to think about it, the only wonder was
that she had not written to Miss Holt before.

For, of course, he had spoken to her of Miss Elizabeth, as he had spoken
of others who were his special friends among his parishioners. Miss
Martha had been set right as to her age and her place in the world of
Gershom, and he had answered many questions with regard to her. He had
answered questions about other people too--about John McNider, and the
Flemings and Miss Betsey, and there might come a little letter to one of
them some day. He laughed when he thought of this, but he did not laugh
when he thought of giving the note to Miss Elizabeth.

He need not have been troubled. It was a very innocent little letter,
which Miss Elizabeth