ar Sister Carmen," he said, "you have, by your tardiness, missed
hearing that Brother Daniel Becker has written to us from the land of
the Caffres, and has desired us to choose a wife for him. The lots
have just now been cast, and the Lord has directed it to you."

"To me?" said Carmen, with an air of perplexity, turning her astonished
glance on the speaker, as if she did not understand what he was saying.

"Yes, to you, dear Sister," continued Jonathan, with a louder voice;
"and I hope you will receive this choice humbly, as becomes you, and
accept your position as Brother Daniel's wife--" he hesitated a moment,
and then added with emphasis; "if you are not already betrothed to some
other man."

Carmen's eyes flashed with anger, and she drew herself up proudly.

"Cast lots for me!" she exclaimed bitterly; "disposed of me at a
chance, as if I were a bale of goods, a lifeless piece of machinery!
Promised me to a man to whom no impulse of my heart draws me; to whom
it is quite indifferent whether I or some other girl falls to his
share--and all in the name of religion! This is indeed degradation,
slavery! It never could be worse among the slaves on the islands whose
freedom you all have taken so much trouble to secure."

She had spoken with all the passion of her warm nature stirred to its
depths; and now she stopped, exhausted. All color had vanished from
her face; only the lustrous eyes glistened with a dangerous light.

"I will never submit to your inspired decision, and refuse to recognize
this choice," she said at length.

Every one looked at her in amazement, thunderstruck at this candid and
straightforward announcement. All at once, as if she had been struck
with leprosy, the Sisters shrank back from her--she stood alone in
their midst; only Agatha approached her, and with an anxious look
seized her hand.

"Dear Sister," she commenced gently, "you are excited, and cannot
listen to the higher voice. Reflect a moment."

Carmen shook her head, and with that peculiar mixture of pride and
child-like humility which marked her character, she bowed herself
submissively before her faithful admonisher.

"Forgive me, dear Sister Agatha," she pleaded, embracing her fondly;
"forgive me if I am constrained to speak in a manner that you think is
wrong; but I can retract nothing of what I have said. Let me go to my
father; he is my natural protector, and he alone has the right to
dispose of me."

She avoided lo