oor
Magdalene! She has never been able to control herself in a storm since
the evening Herbert left her, and we went in and found her lying
insensible in the library, in the midst of one of the worst storms I
have ever witnessed."

"That was when he said those cruel words to her!" ejaculated Phillis.

"Yes. Did she repeat them? How often I have begged her to forget them,
and to believe that he repented of them before an hour was over! Ah,
well! the sting of death lies in this: if she had had one word, one
little word, she would be a different woman, in spite of the
children's death. God's strokes are less cruel than men's strokes: the
reed may be bruised by them, but is not broken. She had a long illness
after the children were gone; it was too much,--too much for any
woman's heart to bear. You see, she wanted her husband to comfort her.
Dr. Parkes feared for her brain, but we pulled her through. Ah, just
so, my dear; we pulled her through!" finished Miss Mewlstone, with a
sigh.

"Oh, how good you are to her! she is happy to have such a friend!"
observed Phillis, enthusiastically.

Miss Mewlstone shook her head, and a tear rolled down her face.

"Oh, my dear, I am only an old fool, as she said just now. And, after
all, the company of a stupid old woman is not much to a proud bonnie
creature like that. Sometimes for days together she hardly opens her
lips to me; we sit together, eat together, drive together, and not a
word for Barby. But sometimes, poor dear! she will cling to me and
cry, and say her heart is breaking. And Solomon was right: but it was
not only a brother that is good for adversity. When she wants me, I am
here, and there is nothing I will not do for her, and she knows
it;--and that is about the long and short of it," finished Miss
Mewlstone, dismissing the subject with another sigh. And then she bade
Phillis finish her coffee and put on her hat. "For your mother will be
expecting you, and wondering what has become of you; and Phillips or
Evans must walk with you, for it is past nine o'clock, and such a
pretty young lady must not go unattended," concluded the simple
woman.

Phillis laughed and kissed her at this; but, though she said nothing
of her intentions, she determined to dismiss the servant as soon as
possible, and run on alone to the Friary. She had not forgotten her
encounter with Mr. Drummond on her last visit to the White House; but
to-night the storm would keep him in-doors.

Evans,