’I wish you could have been present at the baptism.  They looked so solemn, and spoke out very distinctly.  They wore white calico jackets, and the Font was prettily decorated.  The whole service was impressive, and not less so our good Bishop’s voice and manner.  They looked very nice, and it was amusing to see how they took it.  Only one could I get to look in the glass; and she said the flowers were too large:  the other two only submitted to being beautified.’

I return to the Bishop’s correspondence:—­

’Norfolk Island:  Fourth Sunday in Advent, 1870.

’My dearest Joan,—­I am choosing—­a strange moment to write in.  It is 8.30 A.M., and in an hour I am going to the New Church, built by the Pitcairners, to ordain Mr. C. Bice, Priest.  I was up as usual early this morning, and I am not well, and feeling queer, and having already read and had Morning Chapel Service, I take now this means of quieting myself.  You see it is nearly three miles to the “town;” the service will be nearly three hours; I don’t quite know how I shall get through it.  I thought of having the service here; but our little Chapel won’t hold even our Melanesian party (80 out of 145) who attend public prayers, and of course the islanders want to see, and it is good for them to see an ordination.

’This is my first expedition to the town since I came from the islands, I shall have a horse in case I am very tired, but I would rather walk all the way if I can.

’Just now I am headachy, and seedy too; but I think it is all coming right again.  I hope to have a bright happy Christmas.

’After this day’s Ordination we shall number one Bishop, six Priests, and one Deacon.  There are three or four Melanesians who ought soon to be ordained; and if it is possible for me to spend two or three months this next winter at Mota, I must read with George, and perhaps ordain him Priest.  It troubles me much that during all these summer months there can be no administration of the Holy Communion, though there are six communicants, besides George, now living for good at Mota.  There will be four or five next year taking up their abode at the neighbouring island of Aroa.

’Dear Joan!  At such times as these, when one is engaged in a specially solemn work, there is much heart-searching, and I can’t tell you how my conscience accuses me of such systematic selfishness during many long years.  I do see it now, though only in part.  I mean, I see how I was all along making self the centre, and neglecting all kinds of duties, social and others, in consequence.

’I think that self-consciousness, a terrible malady, is one’s misfortune as well as one’s fault.  But the want of any earnest effort at correcting a fault is worse perhaps than the fault itself.  And I feel such great, such very great need for amendment here.  This great fault brings its punishment in part even now.  I mean, there is a want of brightness, cheerfulness, elasticity of mind about the conscious man or woman.  He is prone to have gloomy, narrow, sullen thoughts, to brood over fancied troubles and difficulties; because, making everything refer to and depend on self, he naturally can get none of that comfort which they enjoy whose minds naturally turn upwards for help and light.