ttention immediately by the way
in which she managed those spoiled children of Mrs Everett's. Nobody
ever had any control over them but your sister; but they are in much
better order than they used to be."

"It gives Jane much satisfaction to think so," said Charles.

"But it must be very discouraging work," said Monteath, "to do her best
for them, for half of every day, and to be obliged to surrender them to
be spoiled for the other half."

"I should find it so," replied Charles: "but Jane makes as little as
possible of discouragements. Her temper used to be an anxious one too:
but she has had so much to do and to bear, that she has learned not to
look from side to side in hope or fear, but to go on, straight forwards,
in the road of duty, whether an easy one or not."

"She is an enviable person then," said Monteath.

"All things are by comparison," said Charles, rather confused when he
recollected what he had said about his sister. "I do not mean that she
never flags: I was only speaking of her in comparison with myself, and
with her former self."

"Nothing but religious principle could enable her to do this," said
Monteath. "This is the secret of her superiority, is it not? Without
this her trials would have produced depression, instead of renewed
energy."

"Certainly," replied Charles. "There are many who pity her under her
weight of cares, and who are grieved when they think that she is an
orphan, and that she has more arduous duties to perform than many can
get through under the guidance and with the assistance of parents or
experienced friends. But Jane knows that she is guided, though
invisibly, by the best and wisest of Parents, and the Bible is to her as
His manifest presence: she has recourse to it on all occasions of
difficulty, and can never want confidence or feel forlorn, while such a
director is at hand."

"Those whose reason is matured enough, and whose religious affections
are cultivated enough to attach their heart and soul to such a guide,
may well do without other support," said Monteath. "`The integrity of
the upright shall guide them!' But there are few of your sister's age
who are thus advanced in the ways of wisdom."

"If so," said Charles, "her superiority is to be ascribed to the
peculiar circumstances in which the Father of her spirit has placed her.
And, surely, trials which produce such an effect should be endured with
submission and remembered with gratitude."

"That