r.

"Weren't you surprised?" said Kitty, joyfully. "Daddy said you would
be; and I told him where to hide them so that Sally should not see
them. And, oh!"--with a long-drawn sigh--"I've never been so happy in
my life. Daddy says I must thank you ever so much, dear Mr. Paul."

Paul stooped and kissed the pretty, flushed face. "It's been great
fun, Kitty; you've nothing to thank me for. It is my first Christmas
tree, and I shall take great care of my penknife."

It was seven o'clock before Sally and Paul regained the quietness and
peace of their lodging, for it took some time to deliver all the little
ones to their several homes.

"It's wonderful what surroundings will do for one. I've felt as if I
were a curate to-day; but it is Kitty who drove me to it. Her despair
this morning was almost tragic," Paul said.

How little he knew that that night Kitty was thanking God for her happy
day, and for the special help He had sent her to carry through her tree.

"Pray bless dear Mr. Paul!"

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CALL OF GOD.

With the dawn of the New Year there was an outbreak of fever in Rudham,
the after-effect of the flood, which, although it subsided almost as
quickly as it rose, left the houses which it had invaded damp and many
of the drains blocked. Paul, as he went his rounds, condemned some of
the cottages as insanitary, and determined that another spring should
see new ones begun in higher, healthier situations--if, at least, he
could by any means raise the requisite funds. He was constantly
brought into contact with the rector, who busied himself amongst his
sick people morning, noon, and night.

"Bless you!" said Mrs. Weldon, when Paul had been looking round her
premises, and heard with some astonishment the sound of a strong, clear
voice singing in the bedroom above, "that's only Mr. Curzon singing
hymns to my little Jenny, who's proper bad with the fever. She must
have been sickening with it that night as you fetched her to the tree.
Mr. Curzon seems like a parson, and doctor, and nurse, all in one. He
come'd here late last night, and he took her temperature ready to tell
the doctor this morning, and he's round here again now; and it's not as
though he favours mine more than another's. He's just the same to
every one who's bad."

And what one said all said, and Paul pondered on their words. May
Webster had spoken truly when she said that this man lived in the
hearts of his people. Sal