This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X NEVER prophesy unless you know--a great deal about human nature, is a sound axiom; to it might be added, Never give a date for the fulfilment of your prophecies, for human nature is often as slow, if as sure, in its processes as Nature itself. For six weeks or so after Mrs. Heywood had left Beech House for Bath, the arrangement at the Grey Priory seemed to work very well. Theo was welcomed both as a novelty and a compliment at the Charity School, where she soon started taking a class of little girls, and in various cottages where the maxim, Leave the poor to help themselves (a sound one, though it is "the interest of the rich to preach it"), had been observed almost literally. Not quite, however. Here and there Theo found (and was not perfectly pleased to find) that Miss Burchell had been before her--teaching an invalid girl to sew, or looking after a sick child; while, in one notorious case, Anstruther, by means of unsparing discipline, helped by the ruthless use of his sarcastic tongue, had turned a sot and a toper into a selfrespecting human being and the best groom he had. From the.wife, Theo learnt of the rector's high-handed plan of paying the delinquent's wages entirely by an order on the village shop for food and clothing; and also of the rector's practical advice to another woman, who had come to him, weeping, with a black eye administered by her husband--"You're a big strong woman--give him one back"; which she had done--with the happiest results. Theo pursed her mouth slightly when she heard this story; but she came across other instances where the rector's methods were not only drastic but also liberal and merciful; while the few cottages he owned were invariably in excellent repair; and if the tenants had a grudge against him, it wa...