s always swayed towards its youngest and its last.

On witnessing her father's tenderness, she concealed her face in his
bosom, and wept for some time in silence, and by a gentle pressure of
her delicate arms, as they encircled his neck, intimated her sense of
his affectionate indulgence towards her; and perhaps, could it have
been understood, a tacit acknowledgment of her own unworthiness on that
occasion to receive it.

At length, she said, after an effort to suppress her tears, "Papa, I
will go to bed."

"Do, my love; and Jane, forget not to address the Throne of God before
you sleep."

"I did not intend to neglect it, papa. Mamma, come with me." She then
kissed her sisters and bade good-night to William; after which she
withdrew, accompanied by her mother, whilst the eyes of those who
remained were fixed upon her with love and pride and admiration.

"Mamma," said she, when they reached the apartment, "allow me to sleep
alone tonight."

"Jane, your mind appears to be depressed, darling," replied her mother;
"has anything disturbed you, or are you really ill?"

"I am quite well, mamma, and not at all depressed; but do allow me to
sleep in the closet bed."

"No, my dear, Agnes will sleep there, and you can sleep in your own as
usual; the poor girl will wonder why you leave her, Jane; she will feel
so lonely, too."

"But, mamma, it would gratify me very much, at least for this night. I
never wished to sleep away from Agnes before; and I am certain she will
excuse me when she knows I prefer it."

"Well, my love, of course Jean have no objection; I only fear you are
not so well as you imagine yourself. At all events, Jane, remember your
father's advice to pray to God; and remember this, besides, that from
me at least you ought to have no secrets. Good-night, dear, and may the
Lord take care of you!"

She then kissed her with an emotion of sorrow for which she could
scarcely account, and passed down to the room wherein the other members
of the family were assembled.

"I know not what is wrong with her," she observed, in reply to their
enquiries. "She declares she is perfectly well, and that her mind is not
at all depressed."

"In that I agree with her," said William; "her eye occasionally sparkled
with something that resembled joy more than depression."

"She begged of me to let her sleep alone to-night," continued the
mother; "so that you, Agnes, must lie in the closet bed."

"She must, certainly, be u