ng other languages than our own, we were
flying in the face of the Lord's purpose when He had said, at the
building of the Tower of Babel, that He would confound their languages
so that they should not understand each other's speech. As Brother
Robinson was to me, so was I to the quick wits, bright senses, and
ready words of Holdsworth.'

The first little cloud upon my peace came in the shape of a letter from
Canada, in which there were two or three sentences that troubled me
more than they ought to have done, to judge merely from the words
employed. It was this:--'I should feel dreary enough in this
out-of-the-way place if it were not for a friendship I have formed with
a French Canadian of the name of Ventadour. He and his family are a
great resource to me in the long evenings. I never heard such delicious
vocal music as the voices of these Ventadour boys and girls in their
part songs; and the foreign element retained in their characters and
manner of living reminds me of some of the happiest days of my life.
Lucille, the second daughter, is curiously like Phillis Holman.' In
vain I said to myself that it was probably this likeness that made him
take pleasure in the society of the Ventadour family. In vain I told my
anxious fancy that nothing could be more natural than this intimacy,
and that there was no sign of its leading to any consequence that ought
to disturb me. I had a presentiment, and I was disturbed; and I could
not reason it away. I dare say my presentiment was rendered more
persistent and keen by the doubts which would force themselves into my
mind, as to whether I had done well in repeating Holdsworth's words to
Phillis. Her state of vivid happiness this summer was markedly
different to the peaceful serenity of former days. If in my
thoughtfulness at noticing this I caught her eye, she blushed and
sparkled all over, guessing that I was remembering our joint secret.
Her eyes fell before mine, as if she could hardly bear me to see the
revelation of their bright glances. And yet I considered again, and
comforted myself by the reflection that, if this change had been
anything more than my silly fancy, her father or her mother would have
perceived it. But they went on in tranquil unconsciousness and
undisturbed peace.

A change in my own life was quickly approaching. In the July of this
year my occupation on the ---- railway and its branches came to an end.
The lines were completed, and I was to leave ----s