In fact, she told him he had quite "a Christmas face." "What is a Christmas face, Mary ?" he asked, smiling.
"Don't you know?
A face that looks glad because other people are glad,"-- she replied, simply.
An expressive glance flashed from Reay's eyes,--a glance which Helmsley caught and understood in all its eloquent meaning.
"We had quite a touching little sermon this morning," she went on, untying her bonnet strings, and taking off that unassuming head-gear--"It was just a homely simple, kind talk.

Our parson's sorry to be going away, but he hopes to be back with us at the beginning of April, fit and well again.

He's looking badly, poor soul! I felt a bit like crying when he wished us all a bright Christmas and happy New Year, and said he hoped God would allow him to see us all again." "Who is going to take charge of the parish in his absence ?" asked Reay.
"A Mr.Arbroath.He isn't a very popular man in these parts, and I can't think why he has volunteered to come here, seeing he's got several parishes of his own on the other side of Dunster to attend to.

But I'm told he also wants a change--so he's got some one to take his duties, and he is coming along to us.

Of course, it's well known that he likes to try a new parish whenever he can." "Has he any reason for that special taste ?" enquired Reay.
"Oh yes!" answered Mary, quietly--"He's a great High Churchman, and he wants to introduce Mass vestments and the confessional whenever he can.
Some people say that he receives an annual payment from Rome for doing this kind of work." "Another form of the Papal secret service!" commented Reay, drily--"I understand! I've seen enough of it!" Mary had taken a clean tablecloth from an oaken press, and was spreading it out for dinner.
"Well," she said, smilingly, "he won't find it very advantageous to him to take the duties here.