"Oh yes," chimed in other voices, "that she be; and may she prove a good wife."
"But it'll be a sad day," said another voice, "for our leddy, Miss Warner, when her brother leaves, though she says she be's well pleased he is agoing to spend his life in tellin' the heathen 'bout Jesus. But she'll miss him sorely. The Lord bless her for all she's done for us and ours."
"Oh, she is a leddy, that she be," said many of them.
"It's a puzzle," said one, "how she has been let stay Miss Warner so long, though some do say there's summat between her and young Mr. Lascelles."
"Maybe, maybe there is, but we're in no hurry to have her taken from us, even by him. And how would the old gentleman and the young uns do without her? Though Miss Ruth is growing up a likely girl. But there, the carriage will be passing, and we'll lose the sight of the young couple as they pass to the Grove."
"But ye know," put in one or two voices, "we'll see them at the meetin' to-morrow night to bid them farewell and God-speed."
Yes, many besides the women whose conversation we have related wondered that Prissy was Miss Warner still. But so it was; and a happy, useful, Christ-like life she spent, nobly fulfilling her woman's mission as a helper and comforter. Her father clung to her with increasing tenderness, and turned to her as a help in his favourite pursuits. She still acted as amanuensis, though by God's blessing on the skill of a famous oculist, the sight of one of his eyes had been restored. And Claude and Ruth looked to her for help and sympathy in everything.
Father and daughter stood together a moment ere starting for the station, where they were going to welcome back Austin and his pretty bride Gabrielle from their marriage trip. They were coming to spend ten days at the Grove ere starting as missionaries to China.
"Prissy," said Dr. Warner, "it is a joyful thing now to me to think God has put it into Austin's heart to consecrate all his talents to his cause, and go as his ambassador to tell the good news of Christ crucified and risen again to the heathen. God grant he may be greatly used in gathering in souls to the kingdom of God."
"I am sure he will be so used," said Prissy with emotion. "Austin's desire since he was a boy has been to help on the kingdom of God; and he began to do so early, both in his own home and amongst his schoolfellows, and in later years he did so at college. So long ere he was ordained of men to preach the gospel, he had done so, wherever he had been, by life and word, and already many call him blessed."