radise,' gasped the housekeeper.

'No, not in Paradise. Listen; let me tell you. "Blessed is the man
whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered."'

Mrs. Barker met the look in Esther's eyes, and was absolutely dumb.

'Don't you know that?'

'I've heerd it, mum.'

'Well, you understand it?'

'If you please, Miss Esther, I think a body could be that knowed it;
that same, I mean.'

'How can anybody be happy that does _not_ know it?'

'True enough, mum; but how is anybody to know it for sure, Miss Esther?'

'_I_ know it, Barker.'

'_You_, Miss Esther! Yes, mum, that's easy, when you never did nothin'
wrong in your life. 'Tain't the way with the likes o' us.'

'It is not the way with anybody. Nothing but the blood of Christ can
make any one clean. But that will. And don't you see, Barker, _that_ is
being happy?'

There was indeed no dissent in the good woman's eyes, but she said
nothing. Esther presently went on.

'Now I will tell you another word. Listen. "Blessed is the man whose
strength the Lord is." Don't you think so, Barker? Don't you see? He
_can never be weak_.'

'Miss Esther, you do speak beautiful!' came out at last the housekeeper.

'Don't you think that is being happy?'

'It do sound so, mum.'

'I can tell you it feels so, Barker. "Blessed are all they that put
their trust in Him." And that is, they are happy. And I trust in Him;
and I love Him; and I know my sins are forgiven and covered; and my
strength is in Him--all my strength. But that makes me strong.'

She went away with that from the window and the room, leaving the
housekeeper exceedingly confounded; much as if a passing angel's wings
had thrown down a white light upon her brown pathway. And from this
time, it may be said Mrs. Barker regarded her young lady with something
like secret worship. She had always been careful and tender of her
charge; now in spirit she bowed down before her to the ground. For a
while after Esther had left the room she stood very still, like one
upon whom a spell had fallen. She was comparing things; remembering the
look Mrs. Gainsborough had used to wear--sweet, dignified, but
shadowed; then the face that at one time was Esther's face, also sweet
and dignified, but uneasy and troubled and dark; and now--what was her
countenance like? The housekeeper was no poet, nor in any way fanciful;
otherwise she might have likened it to some of the fairest things in
nature; and still the comparison woul