it does not matter whether it is in my time, only I must work on.  And then I think of the prayers of the Church, ascending continually for the conversion of the heathen; and I know that many of you are praying specially for the heathen of Melanesia.  And so one’s thoughts float out to India, and China, and Japan, and Africa, and the islands of the sea, and the very vastness of the work raises one’s thoughts to God, as the only One by whom it must be done.

’Now, dear Uncle, I have written all this commonplace talk, not regarding its dulness in your eyes, but because I felt weary and also somewhat overwrought and sad; and it has done me much good, and given me a happy hour.

’We had our service on board this morning, and the Holy Eucharist afterwards; Mr. Kerr, two Norfolk Islanders, a Maori, and a Nengone man present.  I ought not to be faint-hearted.  My kind love to Aunt and Mary.

’Your affectionate and dutiful Nephew,

‘J.  C. Patteson, Missionary Bishop.’

The climate of Mota had again disagreed with Mr. Dudley, who was laid up with chronic rheumatism nearly all the time he was there; and the Bishop returned from his voyage very unwell; but Mr. Pritt happily was strong and active, and the elder Banks Island scholars were very helpful, both in working and teaching, so that the schools went on prosperously, and the custom of carrying weapons in Mota was dropped.

On November 7 the ‘Sea Breeze’ was again in harbour; and on the 15th, after mature consideration, was written this self-sacrificing letter:—­

’St. Andrew’s:  November 15, 1862.

’My dearest Sisters,—­I returned from a voyage unusually interesting and prosperous on the 7th of this month; absent just nineteen weeks.  We were in all on board seventy-one.

’I found all your letters from April to August 25.  How thankful I am to see and know what I never doubted, the loving manner in which my first and later letters about New Zealand were taken.  How wise of you to perceive that in truth my judgment remained all through unaltered, though my feelings were strongly moved, indeed the good folk here begged me to reconsider my resolution, thinking no doubt kindly for me that it would be so great a joy to me to see you.  Of course it would; were there no other considerations that we already know and agree upon, what joy so great on earth!  But I feel sure that we are right.  Thank God that we can so speak, think, and act with increasing affection and trust in each other!

’The more I think of it, the more I feel “No, it would not do!  It would not be either what Joan expects or what Fan expects.  They look at it in some ways alike—­i.e., in the matter of seeing me, which both equally long to do.  In some ways they regard it differently.  But it would not to one or the other be the thing they hope and wish for.  They would both feel (what yet they would not like to acknowledge) disappointment.’