than when you were
accused of a theft, when you were chained and likely to be doomed to
death. We were weeping together in prison and lamenting our affliction.
Well, even this trial has been a source of great good to us. Looking
back upon it we can see that, when the young Countess favoured you
above other young girls, honoured you by admitting you to her company,
made you a present of a beautiful gown, and expressed a wish that you
should always be near her, there was a danger that these great
advantages of life would render you vain and trifling, fond of the
things of this world, and apt to forget God. Doubtless the Lord
consulted our highest interests when He changed our condition, and
banished us from happiness into despair. In the misery of our state, in
prison and in poverty of circumstances, we have been enabled to live
nearer to Him. He has brought us far from the corrupt influences of
large towns into this lonely country where He has prepared for us a
better home. Here you are like a flower flourishing in solitude, where,
if it has not the admiration of man, it has nothing to fear from his
hand.

"The good and faithful God who has done all these things for us will
give a still more happy turn to your life. For I firmly believe that He
has answered my prayer, that He will one day show to the world your
innocence. When that time shall come I shall be no more, but I can die
in peace without seeing it, for I am convinced of your innocence. Yes,
my daughter, the pain which you have suffered will yet be the means of
leading you to much happiness on earth, though this kind of happiness
is the least, and you will see that God's great design in afflicting us
was to sanctify our hearts, and to prepare us for that home to which we
can arrive only through tribulation and suffering.

"Believing this, let not your heart be troubled that you are in
misfortune. Believe firmly that God's tenderness watches over you, that
His care will be sufficient for you in whatever place He chooses to
take you. In whatever painful situation you may be placed, say, 'It is
the best place for me. Notwithstanding all that, I am safe, for He has
brought me here.'"

CHAPTER XI.

MARY'S GREAT LOSS.

When at last Mary could no longer hide from herself the seriousness of
her father's illness, she went to the minister of the parish in which
Pine Cottage was situated and asked him to come and visit him. The
minister, who was a kind-heart