d an explanation. Her wonder was as great as his own, however;
and she remained silently gazing at the sunset, and pondering. A shake
of the head betrayed her want of success in this attempt to unravel
the mystery, especially the lawyer's indignation at the words written
by Verty.

They passed from this to quite a grave discussion upon the truth of
the maxim in question, which Redbud and her companion, we may imagine,
did not differ upon. The girl had just said--"For you know, Verty,
everything is for the best, and we should not murmur,"--when a gruff
voice at the door replied:

"Pardon me, Miss Redbud--that is a pretty maxim--nothing more,
however."

And Mr. Rushton, cold and impassable, came in with the jovial Squire.

"So busy talking, young people, that you could not even look out the
window when I approach with visitors, eh?" cried the Squire, chuckling
Miss Redbud under the chin, and driving the breath out of Verty's body
by a friendly slap upon that gentleman's back. "Well, here we are, and
there's Lavinia--bless her heart--with an expression which indicates
protestation at the loudness of my voice, ha! ha!"

And the Squire laughed in a way which shook the windows.

Miss Lavinia smiled in a solemn manner, and busied herself about tea.

Redbud turned to Mr. Rushton, who had seated himself with an
expression of grim reserve, and, smiling, said:

"I did not hear you--exactly what you said--as you came in, you know,
Mr. Rushton--"

"I said that your maxim, 'All is for the best,' is a pretty maxim, and
no more," replied the lawyer, regarding Verty with an air of rough
indifference, as though he tad totally forgotten the scene of the
morning.

"I'm sure you are wrong, sir," Redbud said.

"Very likely--to be taught by a child!" grumbled the lawyer.

Redbud caught the words.

"I know I ought not to dispute with you, sir," she said; "but what I
said is in the Bible, and you know that cannot contain what is not
true."

"Hum!" said Mr. Rushton. "That was an unhappy age--and the philosophy
of Voltaire and Rousseau had produced its effect even on the strongest
minds."

"God does all for the best, and He is a merciful and loving Being,"
said Redbud. "Even if we suffer here, in this world, every affliction,
we know that there is a blessed recompense in the other world."

"Humph!--how?" said the skeptic.

"By faith?"

"What is faith?" he said, looking carelessly at the girl.

"I don't know that I can de