dear, speak out," said her aunt; "they are but
afflicted with the epidemic which has attacked all ranks in our day.
Thus, where will you find a really unselfish servant nowadays? The old-
fashioned domestics who would live a generation in a family, mourn over
an accidental breakage committed once in a quarter of a century, and
count their employer's interest as their own, are creatures entirely of
the past. And as with maid and man, so with mistress and master, old or
young. `What am I to get as an equivalent if I do this or that?' seems
the prevailing thought now with workers of every kind."

"Ah yes," said the colonel thoughtfully, "there is too much truth in
what you say; only, in the darkest night we may detect a few stars, and
some very bright ones too, if we will only look for them. And I am
looking for stars now, but I shall be quite content to get one or two of
the second or third magnitude."

"I'm afraid you'll hardly be able to find any in this neighbourhood, for
the clouds," said the old lady, with a smile, in which the bitter
prevailed over the sweet.

"Nay, nay, my dear friend," cried the colonel cheerily, "don't let us
talk about clouds this lovely June morning. I fear, however, that I
must not look for what I want among the Wilders. I can readily
understand that they might be unwilling to work in the shade, where
there would be nothing to repay them except the smile of Him who will
not let even the cup of cold water rightly given go unrewarded. What do
you say to Lady Willerly's daughter? I have heard great things of her.
They tell me she is one of the most unselfish creatures under the sun."

"Ay," said the old lady dryly, "when the sun shines on her; but you want
workers in the shade. Grace Willerly will not do for that."

"You think not? Well, let me tell you what I have heard of her. Those
who know her well say that she never seems so happy as when she is doing
good and making others happy. Her mother calls her `my sunbeam.' She
seems to take a pleasure in thwarting herself in order to gratify
others. If she wants to go out for a walk, and some tiresome visitor
comes in, she will laugh, and say, `I was just wanting some one to come
and keep me in, for I dare say I should have caught cold if I had gone
out just now.' Or it may be quite the other way. She is just sitting
down to draw or play, and some one calls and asks her to take a walk,
and she at once leaves her occupation, jump