e looked up with a smile, "even the heather knows that the way of
self-sacrifice is the only way that is worth while."

There was silence for a few minutes. The crimson light from the shaded
candles fell softly on Mary's face, beautiful in its sincerity and sweet
wistfulness.

The doctor shook his head. "I should never have got on in life if I had
acted in that way," he said.

"You are quite too sentimental, Mary," remarked her sister harshly.
"Why, the world would not go on if we all did as you do. All the same,"
she added, almost grudgingly, "you are welcome to stay here till you get
another appointment."

Mary rose and kissed her. "You shan't regret it, Hetty," she said. "I
will try to help you all I can while I stay, but I may soon get another
appointment."

* * * * *

Fifteen months afterwards there was great rejoicing in Mrs. Forrest's
small and overcrowded house in Croydon, because her youngest brother had
returned from New Zealand with quite a large fortune, which he declared
gallantly that he was going to share with her.

"Half shall be settled on you and your children, Margaret," he said, "as
soon as the lawyers can fix it up. You will be able to send your boys to
Oxford, and give your girls dowries. By the by, how is my old favourite
Ethel? And what is she doing?"

"She teaches physical culture in a large ladies' college in the West
End. It is a good appointment. Her salary has been raised; it is now
L130, with board and lodging."

That did not seem much to the wealthy colonial, but he smiled. "And how
did she get the post?" he said. "I remember in one of your letters you
complained that her education had cost a lot, and that she was very
unlucky about getting anything to do."

[Sidenote: Uncle Max]

"Yes, it was so, Max. But she owed her success at last to the kindness
of a friend of hers, who won this appointment, and then stepped aside
for her to have it."

"Grand!" cried Max Vernon heartily. "What a good friend that was! It is
a real pleasure to hear of such self-sacrifice in this hard, work-a-day
world. I should like to know that young woman," he continued. "What is
she doing now?"

"I don't know," replied his sister. "But here comes Ethel. She will tell
you."

Ethel had come over from the college on purpose to see her uncle, and
was delighted to welcome him home. He was not more than ten years older
than herself, there being more than that between him an