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〃I'll think；〃 said Meta； sighing。 〃If only I felt myself at work；
not to please myself； but to be of use。 Ha！〃 she cried； springing
up； 〃I do believe I see Dr。 May coming！〃
〃Let us run and meet him；〃 said Ethel。
They did so； and he called out his wishes of many happy returns of
blithe days to the little birthday queen； then added； 〃You both look
grave； thoughhave they deserted you？〃
〃No； papa； we have been having a talk；〃 said Ethel。 〃May I tell him；
Meta？ I want to know what he says。〃
Meta had not bargained for this； but she was very much in earnest；
and there was nothing formidable in Dr。 May； so she assented。
〃Meta is longing to be at workshe thinks she is of no use；〃 said
Ethel； 〃she says she never does anything but please herself。〃
〃Pleasing oneself is not the same as trying to please oneself；〃 said
Dr。 May kindly。
〃And she thinks it cannot be safe or right；〃 added Ethel； 〃to live
that happy bright life； as if people without care or trouble could
not be living as Christians are meant to live。 Is that it； Meta？〃
〃Yes； I think it is；〃 said Meta。 〃I seem to be only put here to be
made much of！〃
〃What did David say； Meta？〃 returned Dr。 May。
〃My Shepherd is the living Lord；
Nothing therefore I need；
In pastures fair； near pleasant streams；
He setteth me to feed。〃
〃Then you think；〃 said Meta； much touched； 〃that I ought to look on
this as 'the pastures fair；' and be thankful。 I hope I was not
unthankful。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said Ethel。 〃It was the wish to bear hardness； and be a
good soldier； was it not？〃
〃Ah！ my dear；〃 he said； 〃the rugged path and dark valley will come in
His own fit time。 Depend upon it； the good Shepherd is giving you
what is best for you in the green meadow； and if you lay hold on His
rod and staff in your sunny days〃 He stopped short； and turned to
his daughter。 〃Ethel； they sang that psalm the first Sunday I
brought your mamma home！〃
Meta was much affected； and began to put together what the father and
daughter had said。 Perhaps the little modes of secret discipline； of
which Ethel had spoken； might be the true means of clasping the
staffperhaps she had been impatient； and wanting in humility in
craving for the strife； when her armour was scarce put on。
Dr。 May spoke once again。 〃Don't let any one long for external
trial。 The offering of a free heart is the thing。 To offer praise
is the great object of all creatures in heaven and earth。 If the
happier we are； the more we praise； then all is well。〃
But the serious discussion was suddenly broken off。
Others had seen Dr。 May's approach； and Harry and Mary rushed down in
dismay at their story having； as they thought； been forestalled。
However； they had it all to themselves； and the doctor took up the
subject as keenly as could have been hoped； but the poor boy being
still fast asleep； after； probably； much fatigue； he would not then
waken him to examine him； but came and sat down in the semicircle；
formed by a terraced bank of soft turf； where Mrs。 Larpent； Mrs。
Wilmot； Richard； and Flora； had for some time taken up their abode。
Meta brought him the choice little basket of fruit which she had
saved for him； and all delighted in having him there； evidently
enjoying the rest and sport very much； as he reposed on the fragrant
slope； eating grapes； and making inquiries as to the antiquities
lately discovered。
Norman gave an exceedingly droll account of the great Roman Emperor；
Tiberius V。V。； and Meta correcting it； there was a regular gay
skirmish of words； which entertained every one extremelyabove all；
Meta's indignation when the charge was brought home to her of having
declared the 〃old Duke〃 exactly like in turns to Domitian and
Tiberiushis features quite forbidding。
This lasted till the younger ones； who had been playing and rioting
till they were tired； came up； and throwing themselves down on the
grass； Blanche petitioned for something that every one could play at。
Meta proposed what she called the story play。 One was to be sent out
of earshot； and the rest to agree upon a word； which was then to be
guessed by each telling a story； and introducing the word into it；
not too prominently。 Meta volunteered to guess； and Harry whispered
to Mary it would be no go； but； in the meantime； the word was found；
and Blanche eagerly recalled Meta； and sat in the utmost expectation
and delight。 Meta turned first to Richard； but he coloured
distressfully； and begged that Flora might tell his story for himhe
should only spoil the game。 Flora； with a little tinge of graceful
reluctance； obeyed。 〃No woman had been to the summit of Mont Blanc；〃
she said； 〃till one young girl； named Marie； resolved to have this
glory。 The guides told her it was madness； but she persevered。 She
took the staff； and everything requisite； and； following a party；
began the ascent。 She bravely supported every fatigue； climbed each
precipice； was undaunted by the giddy heights she attained； bravely
crossed the fields of snow； supported the bitter cold； and finally；
though suffering severely； arrived at the topmost peak； looked forth
where woman had never looked before； felt her heart swell at the
attainment of her utmost ambition； and the name of Marie was
inscribed as that of the woman who alone has had the glory of
standing on the summit of the Giant of the Alps。〃
It was prettily enunciated； and had a pleasing effect。 Meta stood
conning the wordswomangiantmountaingloryand begged for
another tale。
〃Mine shall not be so stupid as Flora's；〃 said Harry。 〃We have an
old sailor on board the Alcestisa giant he might be for his voice
but he sailed once in the Glory of the West； and there they had a
monkey that was picked up in Africa； and one day this old fellow
found his queer messmate； as he called him； spying through a glass；
just like the captain。 The captain had a glorious collection of old
coins； and the like； dug up in some of the old Greek colonies； and
whenever Master Monkey saw him overhauling them； he would get out a
brass button； or a card or two； and turn 'em over； and chatter at
them； and glory over them； quite knowing；〃 said Harry； imitating the
gesture； 〃and I dare say he saw V。V。； and Tiberius Caesar； as well as
the best of them。〃
〃Thank you； Mr。 Harry；〃 said Meta。 〃I think we are at no loss for
monkeys here。 But I have not the word yet。 Who comes next？
Ethel〃
〃I shall blunder； I forewarn you；〃 said Ethel； 〃but this is mine：
There was a young king who had an old tutor； whom he despised because
he was so strict； so he got rid of him； and took to idle sport。 One
day； when he was out hunting in a forest； a white hind came and ran
before him； till she guided him to a castle； and there he found a
lady all dressed in white； with a beamy crown on head； and so nobly
beautiful that he fell in love with her at once； and was only sorry
to see another prince who was come to her palace too。 She told them
her name was Gloria； and that she had had many suitors； but the
choice did not depend on herselfshe could only be won by him who
deserved her； and for t