"I have been ill, otherwise you would not have seen me here. As it is,
I fear I shall not find sufficient scope for my energies!"
"You have over a thousand in your parish," said Mona, "and Chilton Common
and other outlying districts in addition. I should think there was scope
enough for one man's energies, especially as that man has already had
a serious breakdown. Now come and have some tea. Miss Webb will wonder
what we are doing."
Mona carried him off, and the children did not see him again for some
time.
"Miss Falkner," asked Jill one day, "why doesn't Miss Webb like
Mr. Arnold? She doesn't, you know."
"Nonsense, Jill, you mustn't have such fancies."
"But it isn't fancy. I was looking at _Punch_ in the drawing-room window
seat yesterday, and Miss Webb said to Mona, 'Well, all I can say is, that
I wish Cecil Arnold had rather gone to Timbuctoo than come here.' And
Mona said, 'Nonsense!' like you said just now, and Miss Webb said, 'I see
the end. I shouldn't have been afraid a year ago.' And then she said she
was sorry for poor Sir Henry Talbot. Now what did she mean, Miss Falkner?
What is the end going to be?"
"You shouldn't listen to grown-up people's talk, Jill."
"But I couldn't help hearing."
"Then you should never repeat what you hear."
Jill subsided.
Mr. Arnold delighted Jill's heart a few Sundays after his arrival by
taking for his text the words: "Then the people rejoiced, for that they
offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to
the Lord.
"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer
so willingly after this sort, for all things come of Thee and of Thine
own have we given Thee."
He spoke of the different things people received from God, and how very
few of them they offered back, and then in plain and simple words he
touched upon the system of tenth-giving.
"There is not a little boy or girl in this church, however poor; there
is not a landed proprietor, however rich, who cannot side by side give
this small portion of what they receive to the service of God. The
poorest labourer can spare a tenth; he will be blessed in giving it,
and joy will be his portion."
And then he astonished his congregation by saying he would be in his
vestry every Saturday evening from six to eight, to accept the tenths
of any of his parishioners who liked to bring them to him.
There was great discussion amongst his congregation afterwards.
"I have no patience with these new-fangled notions," said Miss Webb.
"Cecil always did ride a hobby, and this money question is utterly
ridiculous. We are not Jews, thank goodness!"
"I think he is right," said Mona quietly.
"Oh, of course you do, my dear. He will be able to twist you round his
little finger now."