’Taroniara, from San Cristoval, said to me the other night, “Bishop, why is it that now I think as I never thought before?  I can’t tell quite what I think.  You know I used to be willing to learn, but I was easily led away on my own island; but I think that I shall never wish again to listen to anything but the Word of God.  I know I may be wrong, but I think I shall never be inclined to listen to anything said to me by my people to keep me from you and from this teaching.  I feel quite different:  I like and wish for things I never really used to care for; I don’t care for what I used to like and live for.  What is it?”

’"What do you think it is?”

’"I think—­but it is so (mava) great—­I think it is the Spirit of God in my heart.”

’As for the Mota and Matlavo fellows, and the girls too, they have now good examples before them, and one and all wish to stop here as long as I please.  And that being so, the return to their homes not being a return to purely heathen islands, I trust that they may soon be baptized.  So my heart is full of thankfulness and wonder and awe.

’All this time I write with a full sense of the uncertainty of this and every human work.  I know the Bishop is preaching on failures, and I try to think he is preaching to me.

’July 2nd, 8 A.M.—­My dear Sisters, what a day we had yesterday! so full of happiness and thankfulness.  It was the wedding-day of Fisher and Charlotte, Benjamin and Marion.

’The chapel was so prettily dressed up by Mr. Codrington and Mr. Bice, under whose instructions some of the lads made evergreen ornaments, &c., large white arums and red flowers also.

’At 7 A.M.  Morning- Prayers, as usual.  At 9.30 the wedding.  All the Melanesians in their places in Chapel; and as we came into the Chapel from my room, the 100th Psalm was chanted capitally.  Mr. Codrington said he never was present at so thoroughly devotional a wedding.  It was a really solemn religious service.

’Then I gave good presents to everyone in the school, even the smallest boys came in for a knife, beads, &c.  Then cricket, for the day was beautifully fine, though it is midwinter.  And all sorts of fun we had.  Then a capital dinner, puddings, &c.  Then cricket, running races, running in sacks (all for prizes), then a great tea, 7 P.M.  Chapel, then native dances by a great bonfire.  Then at 10 P.M. hot coffee and biscuits, then my little speech, presenting all our good wishes to the married couples, and such cheering, I hope it may be well remembered.  The deeper feeling of it all is bearing fruit.  Already lads and young men from the Solomon Islands say, “We begin to see what is meant by a man and woman living together.”  The solemnity of the service struck them much.

’The bridegrooms wore their Sunday dresses, nice tidy trousers of dark tweed, Crimean shirt, collar and tie, and blue serge coat.  The brides, white jackets trimmed with a bit of red, white collar and blue skirts.  All the answers quietly and reverently made; the whole congregation answering “Amen” to the word of blessing in an unmistakeable way.  The 67th Psalm was chanted, of course.