k whose years should have
brought them wisdom and self-control."

Annie clasped her hands on her knees, and looked meekly in his face.

"I should have hoped," Mr Ruthven went on, "that a Christian woman of
your standing, and one who is blest, as you yourself have been known to
acknowledge, with a life of peace, would have had compassion on a most
suffering sister, and have rather striven to alleviate her sorrows, and
to soften her occasional self-reproach for what she amiably calls her
infirmities of sensibility, than have wounded and upbraided her, and
treacherously cut off her frail chance of release from a most unjust
captivity."

"I!--I wound and upbraid Lady Carse!"

"Now, do not compel me to remind you of what you ought to know full
well--the deceitfulness of the human heart. Listen to me."

Again Annie looked gently in his face.

"I left that poor lady, already overwhelmed with misfortune, prostrated
anew by your attack of this afternoon. I left her dissolved in tears--
shaken by agitation; and I resolved that my first act of duty should be
to remonstrate privately--observe, I say privately--against the
heartlessness which could pour in drops of bitterness to make the
already brimming cup overflow. Now, what have you to say?"

"I should wish to know, sir, what part of my conduct it is that is
wrong. If I knew this, I am sure--"

"If you knew! My good woman, this blindness and self-satisfaction
appear to show that this life of peace, which you yourself acknowledge
yours has been, has gone somewhat too far--has not been altogether
blessed to you. If you are really so satisfied with yourself as to be
unable to see any sin within you--"

"Oh, sir! Do not think me impatient if I make haste to say that I never
harboured such a thought. It makes me sink with shame to think of my
ever having possibly such a thought. What I asked for, sir, was to know
my sin towards Lady Carse, that I might make reparation if I could,
and--will it please you, sir, to tell me--"

"Tell me, rather, what sin you are conscious of; and we shall then get
at the bottom of this last offence. Come, let me hear!"

Annie looked down, hesitated, blushed deeply, and said she supposed it
was owing to her not being accustomed to the blessing of having a pastor
that she found it so difficult to open her heart now that the blessing
was given for which she had so often prayed. She would strive to
overcome the difficulty. After a pa