ked very dubiously at
his little niece as he spoke.

"Well," said Milly, the earnest look coming into her eyes again, "I love
the Bible so much, you see. Nurse tells me the stories ever so often,
and I know lots and lots of them. But I like the probable son the best.
Do you like it?"

Sir Edward replaced his cigar in his mouth and strolled on without a
reply. His little niece's words awakened very uncomfortable feelings
within his heart. Years before he had known and loved his Bible well. He
had been active in Christian work, and had borne many a scoff and jeer
from his companions when at Oxford for being "pious," as they termed it.
But there came a time when coldness crept into his Christianity, and
worldly ambition and desires filled his soul. Gradually he wandered
farther and farther away from the right path, and when he came into his
property he took possession of it with no other aim and object in life
than to enjoy himself in his own way and to totally ignore both the past
and future. Beyond going to church once on Sunday he made no profession
of religion, but that custom he conformed to most regularly, and the
vicar of the parish had nothing to complain of in the way in which his
appeals for charity were met by the squire. It is needless to say that
Sir Edward was not a happy man. There were times when he could not bear
his own thoughts and the solitude of his position; and at such times
there was a hasty departure for town, and some weeks of club life
ensued, after which he would return to his home, and engross himself in
both his literary and country occupations with fresh vigor.

CHAPTER III.

THE FIRST PUNISHMENT.

Slowly but surely little Milly was advancing in her uncle's favor. Her
extreme docility and great fearlessness, added to her quaintness of
speech and action, attracted him greatly. He became interested in
watching her little figure as it flitted to and fro, and the sunny laugh
and bright childish voice about the house were no longer an annoyance to
him.

One day he was moved to anger by an accident that happened to a small
statue in the hall and Milly was the delinquent. Her ball had rolled
behind it, and both she and the dog were having a romp to get it, when
in the scuffle the statue came to the ground and lay there in a thousand
pieces. Hearing the crash, Sir Edward came out of his study, and
completely losing his temper, he turned furiously upon the child, giving
vent to languag