ing her income to do this good. She had proffered it to her children-it was theirs. But now, since all parties would be benefited by the new arrangement, nothing could be more felicitous. Mr. Leslie could have his curate at a cost that was a great deal more than counterbalanced by his stipend as tutor. He and Emily had sufficient wealth of their own to live with luxuries (as they thought then, poor benighted things), even if they had not their mother's added. Lord and Lady Bernard were delighted to have Mr. Leslie as tutor for their boys. And as for Mrs. Reine, she was in the White House within the week. She and her maid, Milner, took the opportunity of making the experiment of how little was necessary for them to live upon, before the curate came. Every penny was to be saved for "The School." CHAPTER XIII. "In arguing, too, the parson owned his skill— AND a noble school it was. GOLDSMITH. Lord Bernard Mrs. Reine, gave the ground, of course. with the consent of her children, sunk 15007. in building and endowing it, with permanent salaries for the master and mistress. As it rose, stone upon stone, it became the pride of the valley, and of those for whose welfare it was reared. It had a higher destiny yet. It spurred on many a wealthy but careless ironmaster to "go and do likewise." No one looked upon it without feeling an impulse within him for good, compelling him to acknowledge that as he drew such vast wealth from the bountiful bosom of the earth, there was no surer payment of gratitude than benefiting her sons. Mrs. Reine's school became the model of many others the focus from whence others radiated. It was not reared in human pride, but in a noble generosity that neither heard nor understood the flatteries of less high-minded natures. The Valley of a Hundred Fires wanted such an edifice. Mrs. Reine thought herself privileged that she was permitted to erect it - nothing more. Thus, if she had for a short time caused any uncomfortableness between Mr. Leslie and his parishioners, it was now amply atoned for. The good madam, as she was called from her stately ways-her high-heeled shoes, vast dimity petticoats, and muslin turban- dispensing physic, flannel, and advice in equal proportions, might have a few crotchets, but she was a grand lady for all that. It is not to be supposed that Lord Bernard had no schools before. On the con trary, he had been at good of his people. great expense for the But Mrs. Reine, far seeing, and a good deal enlightened by her friendship with Mrs. Hannah More, was the first to build one of those large, airy structures, of which so many models may be seen now in every county; and to inaugurate a Sunday School as well. In this she was universally assisted by all the ladies in the neighbourhood. No happier work could be given the Miss Hills-no more delighted labourer over the ittle A B C class than good Mrs. Dawson. And if Mrs. Robarts's interest in the school confined itself to a donation of books, had she not reason to excuse herself? Was she not now the mother of a very fine son and heir, whose well-being could only be preserved by the incessant watchfulness and care of his doting mother? Thus it will be seen that all matters were prospering in the Valley of a Hundred Fires. Especially at the parsonage. Adeline was growing prettier every day, and young Jeffreys was becoming seriously enamoured, spending all his pocket-money on sugar plums for her. Little John (Emily thought she had had all her own way, but big John was very sly-he had baptized his own son "John Emylius," and she did not discover it until too late. However, she indemnified herself-inconvenient as it was-baby went by the name of "Little John," and no surreptitious "Emylius" was allowed) well, little John lovely boy by the way) could now walk and talk. Therefore, neither my readers |