"Well, how much _ought_ one, Uncle Eden?"
"You do not want to go without your lunch?"
"No, sir. Ought I, Uncle Eden?"
"My dear, the Lord's rule is, 'Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give. What you _want_ to give, that is what the Lord likes to receive."
"Don't He like to receive anything but what we like to give?"
"He says, 'The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.'"
There was a pause.
"But, Mr. Murray," said Flora, "isn't there such a thing as a duty of giving?"
"There is such a thing."
"That is what we want to know. What is it? What is the duty, I mean?"
"What does the Bible say it is, you mean?"
"Yes, sir, certainly."
"I am afraid you will think the rule a sweeping one. The Lord said, 'This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.'"
Another pause.
"But we were talking of _giving_, Mr. Murray."
"Love will give where it is needful."
"But will nothing but love give?"
"Not to the Lord."
"To what, then?" said Flora hastily.
"To custom--to public opinion--to entreaty--to conscience--to fear--to kindness of heart."
"And isn't that right?"
"It is not giving to the Lord."
"Well, Mr. Murray, take it so; how much ought one to give, as you say, to the Lord?"
"All."
"And be a beggar!" said Flora quickly.
"No; only the Lord's steward."
"That is exactly what I thought Mr. Murray would say," said Meredith.
"Then it comes back to the first question, Mr. Murray. Suppose I am a steward, how much must I give away out of my hand?"
"If you are a good steward, your question will be different. It will rather run thus--'What does my Master want me to do with this money?'
and if you are a loving servant, naturally the things which are dear to your Master's heart will be dear to yours."
"You are speaking in generals, Mr. Murray," said Flora frettedly; "come to details, and then I shall know. What objects are dear to His heart?"
"Don't you know that, Miss Flora?"
"No, I don't think I do. Please to answer, Mr. Murray, what are the objects, as you say, dear to His heart?"
"All the people He died for."
Flora paused again.
"I can't reach all those people," she said softly.
"No. Do good to all those who come within your reach."
"What sort of good?"
"Every sort they need," said Mr. Murray smiling.
"Do you think it is wrong to wear diamonds, Mr. Murray?"
"Certainly not,--if you think the money will serve the Lord best in that way, and if your love to Him can express itself best so."
A muttered growl from Fenton expressive of extreme disgust was just not distinct enough to call for rebuke.
"Then I suppose, according to that, I am never to buy a silk dress that is at all expensive," said Flora, the colour mounting into her handsome face. "And costly furniture of course must be wrong, and everything else that is costly."
"_Your_ conclusions--not mine, Miss Flora," remarked Mr. Murray good-humouredly. "It is a matter of loving stewardship; and love easily finds its way to its ends, always."
"And Meredith wants to know what he shall do with Meadow Park," said Maggie.
"Yes. Ah, Mr. Murray! do say something to stop him," added Flora. "Do not let him spoil Meadow Park."
"To turn the Pavilion into a pretty little church would spoil nothing, Miss Flora, as it seems to me."
"No, but that is not all. Meredith is persuaded that he must make the place a home for old women, and a refuge for sick people, and fill it with loafers generally. Mamma and I will have to run away and be without any home at all; and don't you think he owes something to us?"
"I have not decided upon anything, Mr. Murray," said Meredith smiling, though he was very earnest. "I just wish I knew what I had best do."
"Pray for direction, and then watch for the answer."