’Service at 7 A.M. and 8 P.M.  But it is always open, boys come in of a morning to say their private prayers, for sleeping together in one room they have little privacy there.  And I can go in at all hours.  Soon it will become a sacred spot to us.  It is really like a Chapel.

’August 27th.—­Your birthday, my dear old Fan!  God bless you, and grant you all true happiness, and the sense of being led onwards to the eternal peace and joy above.  The parting here is a long one; and likely to be a parting for good, as far as this world is concerned.

’Last night was the coldest night that they have had during the whole winter; the thermometer touched 43°—­Codrington has regular registering thermometers, so you see what a charming climate this is for us.  Palmer was here all the summer, and he says that the heat, though great as marked by thermometer, was never trying, relaxing, and unfitting for work, as at Kohimarama.’

Thus began the first period of the residence in Norfolk Island; where Mr. Codrington’s account of the way of life shall supplement the above:—­

’When the Bishop returned in August 1867, our party consisted of himself, Mr. Palmer in Deacon’s orders, and myself, Mr. Atkin and Mr. Brooke already experienced in the work, and Mr. Bice, who had with myself lately arrived from England.  The whole number of Melanesians was about sixty; among the eldest of these the most intelligent and advanced of the few then baptized, George, Henry, B——­, Robert and Edward.  There were then, I think, thirteen baptized, and two Communicants.  To this elder class, the Bishop, as far as I can recollect, devoted the greater part of his time.  He said that now for the first time he was able without interruption to set to work to teach them, and he certainly made great progress in those months.  I remember that every evening they used to sit in Chapel after prayers, and consider what difficulty or question they should propound to him; and he would come in after a time, and, after hearing the question, discuss the subject, discourse upon it, and end with prayer.  They were at the time, I remember, much impressed by this; and those who were the most advanced took in a great deal of an elevated strain of doctrine which, no doubt, passed over the heads of the greater number, but not without stirring up their hearts.

’It became a regular custom on the evening before the Communion Sunday, i.e., every other Sunday, to give the Communicants instruction and preparation after the Chapel service.  At this time there was no Sunday sermon in Chapel.  The Bishop used to say that the preaching was done in the school; but much of his school was of a hortatory kind in the Chapel, and often without taking off the surplice.

’At this time I should add that he used from time to time to have other boys with him to school, and particularly Solomon Islanders, whose languages he alone could generally speak.  He had also a good deal with him the second set of eight Banks Islanders, who were by this time recognised Catechumens.