. He would be so industrious
after this, and study so hard, and be a great lawyer like Uncle Thomas,
and then mamma should come and live with him, when Lucy was married and
the children grown up. Ah, how could she damp such fond anticipations
and throw the shadow of care over that bright young face, from which she
had parted back the clustering locks that she might look steadfastly
into those clear, eloquent eyes! So she gave up her first resolve of
telling him _all_ the truth, but said--

"Dear brother, what if it should be necessary for us to move into a
smaller house, and for you to give up study and go into business for a
few years until we get rich again, and Willie is large enough to help
himself a little?"

The shadow came, after all, and the boy's face lost its eager, hopeful
look.

"I knew it would be hard, and that you do not like business; but we all
have to bear trials. Think of poor mamma; for her sake, George. And
because it would be right," she added, after a moment. "But we will talk
more about this some other day; only think of it, brother, and be brave.
Ask strength from Heaven to do rightly," and she pointed to her
dressing-table, where an open Bible lay, stained with tears.

Ah, how many schemes she revolved in her mind that night, when she could
not sleep, and envied the calm repose of Grace, who shared her room, and
was lying so quietly beside her. And then she rose and turned to her
Bible again, as she had never sought it before, although it had always
been dear to her; for she was of those who had "remembered their Creator
in the days of their youth." One sentence caught her attention; no doubt
she had read it a hundred times before, but she never had known its
meaning until now.

"_In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths._"

How full of hope and assurance it was! and something like a smile
quivered about her lips as she knelt and laid her heart open to the
Father of the Fatherless.

But several days passed before anything like a feasible plan suggested
itself. Mrs. Burton was ready to do anything Lucy thought best; but her
mind seemed to be paralyzed by the succession of misfortunes. Yet still
another trial remained for the devoted girl, and harder to bear, that it
came so unexpectedly.

"I cannot do as you wish," she said to her lover, when her resolution
was finally taken. "God only knows how hard the struggle has been, and
still is. But I should despise myself