I've got a book on it which I think rather fine. At any rate, it
is a great idea, though I think I should find it difficult to
follow 'the Way.'

"I am sorry to say that Mother is not well at all. She coughs a
great deal now that Essex is getting so damp, and grows thinner
and thinner. The doctor says she ought to go to Egypt, only
Father won't hear of it. But I won't write about that or we should
have another argument on the fourth Commandment. Good-bye, dear
old boy.--Your affectionate Isobel.

"P.S.--When you write don't tell me all about Switzerland and
snow-covered mountains and blue, bottomless lakes, etc., which I can
read in books. Tell me about yourself and what you are doing and
thinking--especially what you are thinking.

"P.P.S.--That man in armour isn't really good-looking; he has a
squint. Also he puts scent upon his hair and can't spell. I know
because he tried to write a bit of poetry on my programme and got
it all wrong."

When she had finished this somewhat laboured epistle Isobel remembered
that she had forgotten to ask Godfrey to write down his address.
Bethinking her that it would be known to Mrs. Parsons, she took it
round to the Abbey House, proposing to add it there. As it happened
Mrs. Parsons was out, so she left it with the housemaid, who promised
faithfully to give it to her when she returned, with Isobel's message
as to writing the address on the sealed envelope. In order that she
might not forget, the maid placed it on a table by the back door. By
ill luck, however, presently through that door, came, not Mrs. Parsons,
but the Rev. Mr. Knight. He saw the letter addressed to Godfrey Knight,
Esq., and, though he half pretended to himself that he did not, at once
recognized Isobel's large, upright hand. Taking it from the table he
carried it with him into his study and there contemplated it for a
while.

"That pernicious girl is communicating with Godfrey," he said to
himself, "which I particularly wish to prevent."

A desire came upon him to know what was in the letter, and he began to
argue with himself as to his "duty"--that was the word he used. Finally
he concluded that as Godfrey was still so young and so open to bad
influences from that quarter, this duty clearly indicated that he
should read the letter before it was forwarded. In obedience to this
high impulse he opened and read it, with the result that by the time it
was