THE BELL-RINGER 159 



rope, whilst his foot worked in steady time to 

 the measured ring of the old bell. 



One winter Sunday he was too ill to leave home, 

 and when the next one came and it was time 

 for evening service, it seemed as if his soul could 

 not find rest without accomplishing its wonted 

 weekly task. No longer could he take his half- 

 mile walk by the bleak, wind-swept corner near the 

 open fields and then up through the sheltered 

 blackness of the ilex trees to ring the bell, and so 

 he breathed his last and went to join the choirs of 

 saints in heaven. 



His passing away has indirectly affected our 

 arrangements, because it was in rooms attached 

 to the quaint old farm-house which he and his 

 family occupied that the Admiral's tea-party and 

 other amusing entertainments took place. 



Young " Horatio," who, you will perhaps re- 

 member, took such a prominent part in it, and 

 other possessions connected with the Fairies of 

 Let's Pretend have been removed elsewhere. 

 Probably in the end this will prove to be a fortu- 

 nate change of plans, as it will mean the eventual 

 possession of a suitable home of her own by our 

 Principal ; but meanwhile, when plans are maturing, 

 she has taken up a temporary dwelling in a cottage 

 near the old farm. 



It is the middle portion of a large old-fashioned 

 block of three cottages. The roof, as is often the 

 case in ancient Sussex homesteads, is high and 

 slopes upwards to a fine large central chimney 

 that keeps the whole building warm and dry, and 

 on its western side is coloured by bright yellow 

 12 



