t over her,
she could catch but one word--"Jesus." Lucy saw a change come over her
countenance, which she had seen once before, and ere the others,
hastily summoned, could be with her, the little form lay lifeless, its
immortal tenant having escaped to the heavenly home, whither she had
been longing to go.

No one could help being thankful that the sufferings of the patient
little invalid were over. Indeed, with the exception of Mrs. Brooke,
Lucy, and Stella, no one showed any profound grief for the death of a
child who had always been very much secluded, and but little
appreciated. But Mrs. Brooke's sorrow was mingled with some
self-reproach that she had not been to her departed child all that a
mother should have been, and she suffered now for the wilfulness
which, when deprived of one blessing, had turned petulantly from
another. Lucy constantly missed her little favourite, and her sorrow
for the loss of her father, never quite removed, seemed revived anew
by her cousin's death. But she could feel that Amy was infinitely
happier in her heavenly home than she could ever have been on earth;
and she felt not only that she should join her there, but also that
there might be an intercourse and communion of spirit in Christ,
incomprehensible to those who look only to things "seen and
temporal."

It was Lucy's greatest solace to visit poor Antonio, and speak to him
of Amy's concern for him, and her desire that he should find rest and
peace in the love of that Saviour in whom she had so fully trusted. He
was deeply touched on hearing some of the things she had said, and the
tears came to his eyes when he spoke of her kindness in sending so
many things for his comfort.

"But," he said with deep feeling, "it was very different for a
blessed, innocent child like her, and a sinful man like me." Lucy
explained that all are under the condemnation of sin, since none are
without it; and that no sins are too great to be taken away by the
Lamb of God once offered as a sacrifice for "the sin of the world." He
listened silently, while an expression of hope stole over his haggard
countenance; and Nelly told Miss Lucy, with much pleasure, that after
that he prayed much less to the Virgin, and his prayers were more
generally spontaneous ejaculations, expressing the deeply-felt need of
a Redeemer.

Stella's grief for her little sister, partly owing, perhaps, to her
physical weakness, had seemed more violent than that of any one else.