Her ambition was already reaching beyond her little village circle, and she had an inward sense that Cyprian found a form of sympathy in the minister's simple-minded daughter which he could not ask from a young woman of her own aspirations.
Such was the state of affairs when Master Byles Gridley was one morning surprised by an early call from Myrtle.

He had a volume of Walton's Polyglot open before him, and was reading Job in the original, when she entered.
"Why, bless me, is that my young friend Miss Myrtle Hazard ?" he exclaimed.

"I might call you Keren-Happuch, which is Hebrew for Child of Beauty, and not be very far out of the way, Job's youngest daughter, my dear.

And what brings my young friend out in such good season this morning?
Nothing going wrong up at our ancient mansion, The Poplars, I trust ?" "I want to talk with you, dear Master Gridley," she answered.

She looked as if she did not know just how to begin.
"Anything that interests you, Myrtle, interests me.