and had ceased to take
delight in reading God's Word and in prayer.

The Bible upon her dressing-table was read daily, it is true, and both
morning and evening Ruth knelt for a few moments in prayer. But the
sweet meaning was gone from the texts, and the prayer was little better
than a form; there was no life in either.

When the young girl went to live at her uncle's house, she found that
the lives of those with whom she came into daily contact were not ruled
by the same principles and motives as her own. At first she grieved and
prayed for her cousins, then she became self-sufficient and wise in her
own conceit; and having once allowed the unchristian spirit of pride and
dislike for Julia to creep into her heart and take possession, other
evils had quickly followed, and had gradually drawn her farther and
farther away from her Saviour. She began to see it all that night, and
to realize how far off she was; but the knowledge only increased her
wretchedness, and made her more miserable. Suddenly a thought struck
her. Would it not be wise and right to go to Miss Elgin before school
the next morning, to confess that she had yielded to temptation, and to
ask that the obnoxious translation might at once be burnt?

But Ruth angrily resisted the notion. Confess that _she_, who bore the
character of the most conscientious and trustworthy girl in the school,
had stooped to do the very thing which she had so often censured in
others? No, never. It would be too degrading and humiliating. Perhaps,
after all, Julia's translation was not correct. There might be many
faults in her own, and it was very unlikely that she would get a high
number of marks for her French paper.

Thus she tried to quiet her conscience, and to banish uncomfortable
suggestions. It was the 22nd of December, and the prizes were to be
given away on the 23rd. It was not yet known who were to receive them,
and, as school work was virtually over, there was a good deal of talk
and speculation concerning them. Finishing touches were being given to
drawings and maps, desks were being put in order, and books arranged,
all in preparation for the festive morrow.

"Miss Arnold, will you go at once to Miss Elgin, in the library?" said
one of the teachers in charge of the restless chattering crowd of girls.

Ruth obeyed, and left the room with a heightened colour, and the girls
began to wonder why she had been summoned.

"It is about the prize for general improveme