ever feel her need
of anything outside herself.

She drew her Bible towards her now, and turned to the 37th Psalm. She
first glanced at the verse Nannie gave her, then read the psalm through
carefully and steadily.

'It exactly describes Cousin James,' was her inward thought. 'I wish
we could always see the good righted in this life, and the wicked cut
off. I am afraid I could not follow out these precepts in my life. It
is all waiting and trusting and doing nothing oneself, but letting God
do it all for one. It is a psalm that must bring wonderful comfort to
Agatha. Of course, I shall be able to pray that my visit to Walter may
be for good, but I am sure it will. It is not as if I am meditating
some very wrong course of action. If they really wanted me here, I
would not think of leaving them. I am going out for Walter's good. Oh
dear! how often I wish I had been the man in our family!'

With such thoughts as these she presently bent her head, and asked a
blessing on her undertaking, and then turned into bed, feeling very
virtuous at having done so.

There was a great deal of talk between the sisters about Gwen's
proposal, but not one of them now thought to dissuade her, and the only
unpleasant criticism she had to bear was from Miss Miller.

Elfie and Gwen met her in the village, and she stopped them at once.

'What is this I hear?' she demanded, tapping Gwen on the shoulder with
her stick. 'Are you going off to find a husband abroad, because you
haven't been able to pick one up here? I thought you young ladies
would be disappointed when you came to know our neighbourhood.'

'Our friends and acquaintances are not limited to this small corner,
Miss Miller,' retorted Gwen, holding her head proudly; 'we should be in
a poor plight if they were. And if we felt dull, London is not out of
reach. I am going out to my brother.'

'So I have been told. You are going to live amongst bushrangers and
savages. It shows a refined and modest taste to go where you will be
the only woman. But I am surprised at nothing in these days, when
everything is topsy-turvy, and society at its worst. Women vie with
one another in being conspicuous, and girls go about the world in men's
clothes!'

Elfie began to laugh, but Gwen said haughtily,--

'Since it does not surprise you, Miss Miller, I wonder you mention it
at all.'

'Husband-hunting!' growled Miss Miller; and she hurried past them
without another word.

'S