ns"?'

'Yes,' I replied; 'but those are bits of verses you have put together.
I repeated both of them to you.'

I took my Bible and read them to her again, then she said,--

'Now then, take those verses as your text, and give me a little
discourse on them, just as you do to your little Sunday scholars.'

I hesitated. Never had I been asked to do anything that seemed as
difficult as this. Yet I dared not refuse such an opportunity, and,
with an earnest prayer for the Holy Spirit's guidance, I began,
falteringly enough at first, to talk about it. I do not remember now
what I said; I was only conscious at the time of Miss Rayner's earnest
gaze, and of a longing desire that she might obtain both pardon and
peace.

She listened in silence, then said,--

'Now I want to hear you pray. Don't look so frightened. You pray with
the old villagers you go to see, and I have a soul as much as they
have. Kneel down and pray for me.'

I knelt, and when I rose she had tears in her eyes.

'You are a dear little thing!' she said in a softened tone; 'one would
think my welfare was as precious to you as your own, to hear you! Now,
that is enough for to-day. Suppose you leave me, and go out into the
garden for a breath of fresh air. You can send Susan to me.'

I stooped and kissed her before I left, saying softly,--

'Dear Miss Rayner, I know you will find Him if you seek Him. He is
very near you now.'

We had several talks together after that. I could not help thanking
God again and again for having given me this bit of work in the midst
of my own trouble. And it was touching to see how, with all her power
of intellect and will, Miss Rayner's illness had humbled her like a
little child. She seemed to realize deeply her sin in rejecting the
truth for so long.

It was when she was beginning to sit up a little that one day she
turned to me and said, 'I have not asked after Mr. Stanton once yet.
When are you going to Cobham Hall?'

She evidently knew nothing of what had taken place, and was greatly
surprised when I told her all.

'Do you mean to say you have never heard from him since he left?' she
exclaimed.

'Yes, once--from New York. That is nearly two months ago.'

'I wish you hadn't been so quick about it, child. I felt from the
commencement that it was a risky thing, your knowing so very little
about him!'

'I know him well enough to be able to trust him,' I said quietly.

She looked at me and smiled.