ght awakened. All those days that had been
so bright in passing had a shadow over them as she looked back upon
them. To what end and purpose had all their intercourse tended? What
was the cause of the feeling of uneasiness, almost of guilt, that had
come on her now and then at quiet moments? It had clung to her all the
morning. She was not very wise or far-sighted. She could not reason
from cause to effect, or analyse her own feelings very closely. But
even when she was congratulating herself on the prospect of a quiet time
she was half conscious that she was not very glad to find herself alone.
When she sat down with the Bible in her hand, there fell on her spirit
no such blessed sense of rest and peace as used to transform the dim
attic into something pleasanter than this pretty green room, and fairer
than the summer garden.

"There is something wrong," she said to herself, as she listened to Miss
Gertrude's footsteps on the stair. "I am afraid I am one of the folk
that Mrs Grey used to tell about, that an easy life is not good for.
Better the weary days and nights than to fall back into my old ways
again, just content with the pleasure the day brings, without looking
beyond. Who would have thought that I could have forgotten so soon? It
is just this foolish novel reading, I think. Aunt Elsie said it was a
snare to me; and Effie said something like it once."

"Well, I'm not likely to have more of it," she continued, with a sigh.
"I suppose I ought to be glad that Miss Gertrude went away vexed; for I
dare say I should not have had courage to-morrow to tell her that so
much of that kind of reading is not good for me, Sabbath or week-day.
It couldn't have lasted long, at any rate. Of course, when Mrs Seaton
comes home it will be quite different. Well, it will be better for me--
a great deal better. I must be watchful and humble. To think that I
should grow careless and forget, just when I ought to be so mindful and
thankful!"

A few tears fell on the leaves of her little Bible; but by and by the
former peace came back again, as she felt herself half resting indeed on
the only sure foundation. The foolish fancies that had haunted her
imagination all the week vanished before the influence of the blessed
words on those familiar pages. They were precious still, though the
strange charm of her new companionship had turned her thoughts from them
for a time. She forgot her idle dreams, the foolish fancies sh