He was very zealous in all his parish work; and my lady, who was just as good as she could be to the poor, was often crying him up as a godsend to the parish, and he never could send amiss to the Court when he wanted broth, or wine, or jelly, or sago for a sick person.

But he needs must take up the new hobby of education; and I could see that this put my lady sadly about one Sunday, when she suspected, I know not how, that there was something to be said in his sermon about a Sunday-school which he was planning.

She stood up, as she had not done since Mr.Mountford's death, two years and better before this time, and said-- "Mr.Gray, I will not trouble you for a discourse this morning." But her voice was not well-assured and steady; and we knelt down with more of curiosity than satisfaction in our minds.

Mr.Gray preached a very rousing sermon, on the necessity of establishing a Sabbath-school in the village.

My lady shut her eyes, and seemed to go to sleep; but I don't believe she lost a word of it, though she said nothing about it that I heard until the next Saturday, when two of us, as was the custom, were riding out with her in her carriage, and we went to see a poor bedridden woman, who lived some miles away at the other end of the estate and of the parish: and as we came out of the cottage we met Mr.Gray walking up to it, in a great heat, and looking very tired.