deep
blue sunshine, in which the trees seemed to bask, and the air, though
too fresh to be sultry, disposing to inaction. After the second service,
there was a lingering on the lawn, and desultory talk about the contrast
to the West Indian Sundays, and the black woolly-headed congregation
responding and singing so heartily, and so uncontrollably gay and merry.

At length, when Johnnie and Helen, who had an insatiable appetite for
picaninny stories, had been summoned to supper, John and Violet found
that the rest of their companions had dispersed, and that they were
alone.

'I told you that Fanshawe came home with me,' said John. 'The new
arrangements have increased his income;' then, as Violet looked up
eagerly and hopefully,--'he made me a confidence, at which I see you
guess.'

'I only hope mamma will not be anxious about the climate. I must tell
her how well it has agreed with you.'

'I am glad that you think there are hopes for him. It has been a long
attachment, but he thought it wrong to engage her affections while he
had no prospect of being able to marry.'

'It is what we guessed!' said Violet. 'Dear Annette! If he is what I
remember him, she must be happy.'

'I can hardly speak highly enough of him. I have found him a most
valuable friend, and am sincerely glad to be connected with him; but,
tell me, is not this the sister about whom Percy made a slight mistake!'

'Oh! do you know that story? Yes, it was dear Annette! Otherwise
I should never have known about Mr. Fanshawe. It was only a vague
preference, but it was very fortunate that it prevented any attachment
to Percy, or it would have been hard to decide what would be right.'

'Percy was much obliged to you.'

'He was very kind not to be angry. I could have wished it exceedingly,
but I am so glad that I did not persuade Annette, and particularly glad
of this, for she has been out of spirits, and rather wasting her bloom
at home, without much definite employment.'

'I understand. And did you never wish that you had influenced her
otherwise?'

'If Percy and Theodora had not been reconciled, I thought I might have
done so. It did seem a long time to go on in doubt whether I had acted
for her happiness.'

'But you acted in faith that the straightforward path was the safest.'

'And now I am so thankful.' She paused, they were passing the
drawing-room, and saw Arthur lying asleep on the sofa. She stepped in
at the French window, threw a light sha