self. She
entered the room she called the nursery, and it looked cheerful and
bright. Old nurse had had the fire lit, and was sitting by it. A
kettle steamed on the hob, and nurse's cup and saucer and teapot, and
some bread and butter and cakes, were spread on the table. But as
Sibyl came in the sense of satisfaction which she had felt for a
moment or two dropped away from her like a mantle, and she only knew
that the ache at her heart was worse than ever. She sat down quietly,
and did not speak, but gazed fixedly into the fire.

"What is it, pet?" nurse said. "Is anything the matter?"

"No," answered Sibyl. "Nursie, can I read the Bible a bit?"

"Sakes alive!" cried nurse, for Sibyl had never been remarkable for
any religious tendency, "to be sure, my darling," she answered. "I
never go from home without my precious Bible. It is the one my mother
gave me when I was a little girl. I'll fetch it for you, dearie."

"Thank you," replied Sibyl.

Nurse returned, and the much-read, much-worn Bible was placed
reverently in Sibyl's hands.

"Now, my little darling," said nurse, "you look quite white. You'll
just read a verse or two, and then you'll go off to your bed."

"I want to find a special verse," said Sibyl. "When I have read it I
will go to bed." She knitted her brows and turned the pages in a
puzzled, anxious way.

"What's fretting you, dear? I know the Bible, so to speak, from end to
end. Can old nursie help you in any way?"

"I know the verse is somewhere, but I cannot find the place. I
remember reading it, and it has come back to me to-night."

"What is it, dear?"

"'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.'"

"Oh, yes, love," answered nurse promptly, "that's in the Epistle of
St. James, fourth chapter, sixth verse. I learned the whole of the
Epistle for my mother when I was young, and I have never forgotten a
word of it. Here it is, dear."

"But what are you fretting your head over that verse for?" asked the
puzzled old woman; "there's some that I could find for you a deal more
suitable to little ladies like yourself. There's a beautiful verse,
for instance, which says, 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord.'
That means all those in charge of you, dear, nurses and governesses
and all. I heard its meaning explained once very clear, and that was
how it was put."

"There is not a bit about nurses and governesses in the Bible," said
Sibyl, who had no idea of being imposed upon, alt