ness, according to your terms?--something that lasts?'

Esther was in doubt again how to answer.

'I think there is, ma'am,' she said, with a look up at her questioner.

'Pray what is it?'

Did she know? or did she not know? Esther was not certain; was not
certain that her words would find either understanding or sympathy in
all that tableful. Nevertheless, the time had come when they must be
spoken. Which words? for several Bible sayings were in her mind.

'"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord: that walketh in His ways.
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt them be, and
it shall be well with thee."'

The most profound silence followed this utterance. It had been made in
a steady and clear voice, heard well throughout the rooms, and then
there was silence. Esther fancied she discerned a little sympathetic
moisture in the eyes of Miss Fairbairn, but also that lady at first
said nothing. At last one voice in the distance was understood to
declare that its owner 'did not care about eating the labour of her
hands.'

'No, my dear, you would surely starve,' replied Miss Fairbairn. 'Is
that what the words mean, do you think, Miss Gainsborough?'

'I think not, ma'am.'

'What then? won't you explain?'

'There is a reference, ma'am, which I thought explained it. "Say ye to
the righteous that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the
fruit of their doings." And another word perhaps explains it. "Oh fear
the Lord, ye His saints; for there is no want to them that fear Him."'

'No want to them, hey?' repeated Miss Fairbairn. 'That sounds very much
like happiness, I confess. What do you say, Miss Lawton?--Miss Disbrow?
People that have no want unsatisfied must be happy, I should say.'

Silence. Then one young lady was heard to suggest that there were no
such people in the world.

'The Bible says so, Miss Baines. What can you do against that?'

'Miss Fairbairn, there is an old woman that lives near us in the
country--very poor; she is an old Christian,--at least so they
say,--and she is _very_ poor. She has lost all her children and
grandchildren; she cannot work any more, and she lives upon charity.
That is, if you call it living. I know she often has very little indeed
to live upon, and that very poor, and she is quite alone; nobody to
take the least care for her, or of her.'

'So you think she _does_ want some things. Miss Gainsborough, what have
you to say to that?'

'What does