



Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net









                           "The Little Missis"

                           By Charlotte Skinner

_Author of "Doctor Phill," "The Master's Messages to Women," etc._


    With Six Illustrations

    LONDON
    S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO. LTD.
    OLD BAILEY




[Illustration: "'SEE HOW CAREFULLY HE IS HELPING HER OUT OF THE CAB.'"]




CONTENTS


I. HIS PURPOSE

II. THE HOME-COMING

III. A GARDEN LEVEE

IV. A TESTING TIME

V. WILL GOD ANSWER?

VI. THE DARKNESS DEEPENS

VII. THE LAME SHEPHERD

VIII. A TWOFOLD PARTNERSHIP

IX. A WOMAN'S WHIMS

X. A GATHERED FLOWER

XI. IS GOD GOOD?

XII. THE STONE THROWN IN THE WATERS

XIII. LOVE'S HOSPITAL

XIV. AN UNFORTUNATE ENCOUNTER

XV. JOY-MISSIONARIES

XVI. THE CALL OF DEBORAH

XVII. THE GOING FORTH OF DEBORAH

XVIII. HER NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR

XIX. THE NEW CLUB-ROOM

XX. A STRANGE KIND OF PREACHING

XXI. PARTNERS!

XXII. LIGHT ON THE PATHWAY

XXIII. LOYAL LOVE

XXIV. RECOGNISED

XXV. BESSIE COMES TO THE RESCUE

XXVI. THE HOME-COMING

XXVII. RALPH STARTS ON ANOTHER JOURNEY

XXVIII. OLIVE LEAVES AND LAUREL LEAVES

XXIX. CROWNED WITH JOY




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


"'See how carefully he is helping her out of the cab.'"

"Phebe was in the shop taking a general look round"

"'Bessie, you are to tell me right out what is troubling you'"

"'Let us put this cold-blooded letter on the fire'"

"She caused the cup with its contents to fall into Phebe's lap"

"He was standing on the pavement, looking a sad, solitary figure"




"THE LITTLE MISSIS"




CHAPTER I

HIS PURPOSE


Creak--creak--creak! went the old mangle--one of the box sort, weighted
with stones.

"Are you dreadfully busy, Mrs. Colston?" called out a clear, young
voice.

"Bless me, is that you, Miss Phebe?" and the mangle was suddenly silent.
"No, I'm not dreadfully busy, and in two minutes I was going to make
myself some tea; and if you----"

"Oh, won't I, rather! I should just think I will, you dearie; and I'll
get it ready, too, while you play your last tune on your old organ."

Creak, creak, went the mangle, clatter went the cups, and in less than
ten minutes the two were seated at a little round three-legged table
enjoying tea and talk.

"Can't think what's the matter with you to-day, Miss Phebe. Have you got
a new dress on, or have you been doing something to your complexion, or
what is it?" asked Mrs. Colston, looking very intently across the table.

"I have got my old dress on, and have not even washed my face in dew."

"Well, then, what is it?--Ah, I know! you've fallen in love."

"Yes, I fell in love with you a long time ago," answered her visitor
demurely; "but I see you've guessed my secret, you are so clever. The
fact is, I have got two secrets to tell you. I wonder which I should
bring out first!"

The old mangle woman got up from her arm-chair, and, going to where the
girl was sitting, took the fair young face into her hands and kissed the
right cheek, saying, as the tears started to her eyes: "There, my dear;
that's in place of your mother's kiss, and," kissing the other cheek,
"that's for myself."

Resuming her seat there was silence for a minute or two, and then Mrs.
Colston, said: "I think I can guess both your secrets. The first is, you
have given yourself to Jesus; and the second is, you have promised to
marry Stephen Collins."

"Oh, dear, no," exclaimed the girl, rising from her seat. "Why, he has
never asked me. Besides--no, I have promised to marry Ralph Waring."

"Ralph Waring!" repeated the old woman, and then there was an awkward
silence.

"Oh, dear Mrs. Colston, you do not think I have done wrong, do you?"
exclaimed the girl, sinking on her knees in front of her old friend