nocent, so sweet," said Dolly, fixed before the two
pictures.

"Do you think she wasn't?"

"One cannot feel quite comfortable about her. The story is ugly, Mrs.
Jersey. But how a woman with that face could do anything fearfully
wicked, it is hard to imagine. Poor thing!"

"You are very kind, I am sure, to a person of whom you hold such a bad
opinion," said the housekeeper, amused.

"I am sorry for them both," said Dolly. "Life wasn't much good to
either of them, I should think."

"Queen Elizabeth had power," said Mrs. Jersey; "and Queen Mary had
admiration, I understand."

"Yes, but Elizabeth wanted the admiration, and Mary Stuart wanted the
power," said Dolly. "Neither of them got what she wanted."

"Few people do in this world, my young lady."

"Do you think so?"

"Young people generally think they will," said the housekeeper;--"and
old people know better."

"But why should that be?"

"Does Miss Dolly Copley know already what _she_ wants?" the housekeeper
asked.

"No," said Dolly, laughing out; "not at all. I do not know what I want.
I do not think I want anything in particular, Mrs. Jersey."

"Keep so, my dear; that is best."

"Why? Because I should be so sure to be disappointed?"

"You might. But it is safe to let God choose for us, Miss Copley; and
as soon as we begin to plan, we begin to work for our plans, generally;
and if our plan is not _His_ plan,--that makes trouble, you see, and
confusion."

"Of course," said Dolly thoughtfully. "Yet it seems to me it would be
pleasant to have some particular object that one was striving after.
The days go by, one after another, one like another, and seem to
accomplish nothing. I should like to have some purpose, some end in
life, to be striving for and attaining."

"A servant of Christ need never want that," said the housekeeper.

"I have not anything in special to do," said Dolly, looking at her.

"Every servant has something special to do," the other answered.

"I have to take care of mother. But that is not work; it is not work
for Christ, at least, Mrs. Jersey."

"Dear, it may be. Everything you do, you may do for Him; for He has
given it to you to do for Him. That is, unless it is something you are
choosing for yourself."

Dolly pondered.

"And if there be nothing ready to hand that you call work, there is
always preparation for work to be done," Mrs. Jersey went on.

"What sort?"

"The knowledge of the Bible,--and the knowledge of Ch