Wilfred was more than eighteen, Ruth was sixteen,
and had grown quite a young woman. Katherine, too, who was the same
age, had become a splendid example of a healthy, happy, country girl,
while Elizabeth promised to become the beauty of the family.

At this time an event happened which made us better friends.

One afternoon I was sitting on the great headland overlooking the sea.
It was a glorious day. The sky was clear, the sun was shining
brightly, and the bright waves beneath were laughing and playing in the
light of the sun. To me, as I sat there, the great sea was singing a
wondrous song, full of a rich, rare music, which touched the deepest
feelings of my nature. I had not heard much in my life about religion,
and I am afraid I had not thought much about God, but as I sat there
that day, a great rock above me and hundreds of feet of cliff beneath,
while the sea chanted a song which the tones of a thousand organs could
not reproduce, I felt a longing in my heart to serve my Maker and to do
my duty while here below such as I had never felt before.

While I sat there I heard voices above me. Someone was standing on the
great rock in a crevice of which I sat.

"Let's ask Roger to go with us?" said a voice.

I recognised it in a second as my sister Katherine's and I waited for
the answer.

"No," I heard Wilfred say, "he hates girls; besides, he'll be as ugly
as a bear with a sore head."

"That's not fair, Wilfred," said Katherine. "Roger does not hate us,
and as for his being ugly, you know he's not."

"Well, we can't find him, anyhow," said Wilfred, "so let us go."

I must confess I felt angered by this, for I should have liked to
accompany them. I strove to banish my brother's unkind words from my
mind, however, and again tried to listen to the music of the sea; but
it was all driven from my heart. For I have learnt this is truth: we
must have music within us if we are to realise music in anything
without.

I could not sit there long. My brother's words began to burn and
sting; I would go for a walk, too.

I had not gone far when I saw someone running towards me. It was
Wilfred.

"Help, Roger!" he shouted.

"What's the matter?" I said.

"Ruth has fallen down the cliff!"

"Fallen down the cliff! where?"

"Up here. Come with me."

We started running together and quickly came to a place where Elizabeth
was weeping bitterly, while Katherine was descending the steep
declivity as if to tr