to fear we were doing so."

"I must ask your pardon," stammered the Brother, with much confusion.
"It was certainly very rude for us to stare at you so, and yet it was
the result of the deep sympathy we feel for your brother, who seems so
young to be a widower."

Alexander gave a searching glance at the speaker, to see if he was
ridiculing his brother. Hans a widower! In spite of his tall stature,
he showed very plainly that he was but an overgrown schoolboy.

"A widower, sir!" said the young man, slowly. "My brother is only
sixteen years old, and is still at school. In the world we do not
marry at that age."

"It did indeed seem very strange to me," said the good man, in extreme
embarrassment; "but being seated among the widowers, we judged it must
be so."

The two brothers almost laughed out loud, the position was so
ridiculous.

"Then we are both in the wrong place--my brother as well as I! You
must pardon our ignorance of your customs. I saw the men and women
sitting apart, but never imagined the widowers had a particular place
for themselves. Tell us, pray, where we can sit to be among unmarried
fellows like ourselves."

"Nay, my dear sir, remain where you are. The love-feast will soon be
over. Brother Daniel, who leaves us to-morrow, to help Brother Joseph
among the Kaffres, has only to take leave of us before we disperse."

While he was speaking, the whole assembly arose, and one among them
stepped forward. He first advanced to the Sisters, and shook hands
with each one; then passing over to the Brothers, the parting kiss was
given and received. And he who thus bade farewell, ere he followed
Brother Joseph, to share his struggles and hardships, far away from
civilized life, was the identical awkward, ungainly-looking Brother
who, in the morning, had made such an unsuccessful attempt at riding.

There is always an intolerable feeling of moral defeat when we see a
man, whom we have regarded with contempt rise into importance by his
own merit. A noble mind at once acknowledges the fact, but a mean
spirit feels only resentment and spite, with a sense of defeat.

Something like a feeling of shame came over Alexander, as he closely
regarded the man whom he had inwardly despised, but who now seemed like
a hero in his eyes.

Seated at the table, opposite to him were the young sisters and pupils
belonging to the educational department, and among them Adele, seated
not far from Carmen. As Alexan