. They often seem to come straight from Him, as
a message of comfort."

Nothing more was said, but from that time Sophy's Bible was often in
her hands. Its study, indeed, took the place of her other self-chosen
labours, and she read it with an attention and interest it had never
awakened before. That she did not study it in vain, seemed evident in
her softened, gentler manner, in the more peaceful expression of her
countenance, and in the quiet thoughtfulness which she began to show
for others. She would sometimes ask Lucy what she thought about a
passage of Scripture in which she was interested, and the few words
she said about it would give her cousin a clue to the working of her
mind. But her habitual reserve had not yet worn off, and Lucy did not
venture to trespass upon it.

She expressed a desire to accompany Lucy in some of her visits to the
poor Italian, who was perceptibly sinking fast with the advancing
spring. He had, however, grown much in trust in his Saviour, and in
spiritual knowledge, especially since Lucy had procured for him an
Italian Bible, which he could read with much more ease and profit than
an English one. He seemed now to have a deep sense of the evil of his
past careless life, when even the external forms of religion had been
given up, and he had been, like the prodigal, wandering in a far
country.

"And how good is the Father in heaven, that He has a welcome home and
a fatted calf for His wanderer!" he would say earnestly, the tears
rising to the dark lustrous eyes, that sparkled so brightly in the
pale, sunken face.

Sophy listened, half wonderingly, half wistfully, to the few and
broken, but earnest words in which he told of the pardon and peace he
had found in "Looking unto Jesus." "I see the blessed words there all
the day," he said, pointing to the wall, "and they make me glad."

"Lucy, you have a card like that," said Sophy, as they left the house.
"I wish you would give it to me to keep in my room, to remind me of
that poor man's words."

Lucy gladly complied with the request, though she missed her card a
good deal, and hoped that its motto might be of use to its new owner.
Sophy, however, painted the motto in much more elaborate and beautiful
workmanship, had it framed and glazed, and hung it up in her cousin's
room one day while she was out, with a little slip of paper attached,
bearing the inscription, "With Sophy's love and hearty thanks."

One lovely day in May, when all