CHAPTER XVI.

AIMING HIGHER.

HILE Sarah Jones was making the disclosure mentioned in the last chapter, she could not help suspecting that she was being listened to by ears which she had not intended to receive that disclosure. Robert Mason had heard every word! He had not the least wish to play the part of a spy, or to act in any underhand or deceitful way. The simple fact was that as he was going upstairs to seek for some book, which his master had told him he might look for, he overheard a word or two from Sarah which chained him to the spot; so that he listened on with hushed breath, forgetting everything else, and thus became acquainted with the mutual attachment between Charles Fellowes and Sarah Jones. Poor Robert! the discovery affected him as though some malignant being had suddenly crushed his heart together. He groaned aloud, and then,

flinging himself on a bed, tried his utmost to control his emotion, but with little success.

Sarah heard his groaning and weeping, and was greatly distressed at it; for she at once divined the cause, as did John Totts and his wife. At last, looking earnestly at her companions, Sarah whispered, Leave him to me." Then, putting her finger on her lips, she slipped out of the room, and going to the foot of the stairs, called in a low tone more. than once, "Robert, Robert." The poor young man, having obtained some mastery over his feelings, came gently down, and followed Sarah as she led the way into the field that led to the workshop.

"O Sarah, Sarah!" he exclaimed, and yet hardly able to utter the words; "oh, do forgive me. I couldn't help it. I didn't mean to be a sneaking listener, but I heard. Oh, do forgive me!"

She placed her hand kindly on his arm, and then, as he walked by her side up and down the little path, spoke to him in a gentle voice as follows:

:

"Poor Robert, I understand it all, and quite acquit you of any intention to wrong or grieve me. But I want you to aim higher."

He looked puzzled and surprised.

"Yes," she continued, “I want you to aim higher.

I have a sincere regard for you, Robert, and want

you to be really happy; only it cannot be in the way that you would wish, at least not with me. You know that. But still, why should you not be happy? You have learned to know that there can be no true happiness for any one who is not a genuine and faithful servant and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ; and, on the other hand, that no one who is heartily working for Him, and walking by grace in His steps, can be really unhappy. You do know that, Robert?"

"Yes, Sarah," was his reply; "you have taught me that, or perhaps I should rather say that the Lord has taught it me through yourself. Yes, I do know in a measure that in His paths there is peace, and that in keeping of His commandments there is great reward. But "

"Ah, never mind the 'but,' Robert. What I want to persuade you to do is to look higher. You have not forgotten my parting word which I left with you when I went to London-Excelsior'?"

"I shall never forget it, nor the time when it was spoken, as long as I live, Sarah."

"I am glad to hear you say that, Robert; but I want to see you living it too. Now pray bear with me if I just tell you a little more fully what I mean. It will be 'Excelsior' with you if you are moved and swayed by what Dr. Chalmers calls 'the

expulsive power of a new affection;' that means, of course, in your case, by the love of Christ. Now, I will speak out plainly. You have come to be aware that my heart, as far as earthly affection is concerned, is given to another. Nay, don't give way to these terrible sighs; it cannot be otherwise. But, then, do just lay yourself out to find your happiness in the self-renouncing service of your Saviour, and you will soon lose the weight that now burdens your spirit. Just try to get hold of some one to do special good to, to win from the world and draw to Christ, and you will experience the truest and purest happiness in such a work. And then, why should you not get a scholarship at one of the colleges in Oxford, and become at last a clergyman? Oh, it would be a proud and a happy day to me, and indeed to us all, the day of your ordination!"

"Would it really, Sarah? Ah, well, you are right. I will try. You have put before me a noble ambition. Yes; I will not forget Excelsior.' And I see another bright thing too in the distance, but I won't say anything about that now. Time will show; and all will be ordered for the best."

"O Robert, how glad I am to hear you speaking in this way. Yes, think of those gracious words, 'My times are in thy hand.' Only look

upward, and aim high enough, and you will not fail to be happy. And you know, Robert, that we must be prepared to meet with disappointments here. But what a blessing it will be, as I heard a good minister say a few days ago, if we can only change the letter 'd' at the beginning of the word 'disappointments' into an 'h;' then our disappointments will just simply be 'his-appointments'—that is to say, they will prove to be the wiser orderings of our loving heavenly Father, who is pledged to make 'all things work together for good to those who love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.' Now, will you not endeavour to look at the Lord's dealings with you in your present disappointment in this light?"

"Yes, with God's help I will," said Robert Mason seriously and fervently; and then he returned into the house with the cloud removed from his brow.

In a few days Sarah was to return to London; but before she did so Charles Fellowes came down to Stanford, which was the name of the parish and district in which the Hall where Mr. Milvert lived was situated, and had a long interview with John Totts and his wife. They were at once taken with his manly and gentlemanly bearing, and were charmed at his evident appreciation of Sarah's character, and at his manifest oneness with her in his religious