ght,' she said. 'I
always love a community of old women, and if I could have chats with
them, I am sure I should enjoy myself.'

'Well, I only wish I could be so easily contented,' said Clare, in a
tone that showed she would be very sorry for herself if she were. She
soon went off to bed, and Elfie followed, and then the two elder ones
drew their chairs together and had a confidential talk over ways and
means.

Agatha, though apparently apathetic at times and of a yielding
disposition, had not always been so. When she first came home from
school, she had all the bright hopes and restless longings of a young
girl, and her aunt did all in her power to make life pleasant and
bright for her. She went out into society, and was a general
favourite, owing to her sweet temper and extreme unselfishness. Then
one came on the scene who attracted her heart from the first. He was
an earnest, whole-hearted Christian man, a vicar of an East End parish,
and it was his influence that made Agatha view life in a different
light. She vexed her aunt at first by gradually withdrawing from
gaieties, and it was only with great difficulty that she was given
permission to visit in the slums. The vicar was soon her betrothed,
and Agatha had a few months of perpetual sunshine. But hard work, and
a not very strong constitution, soon brought about a serious
break-down, and he was ordered to the south of France to recruit his
health. The parting was a sad one, and Agatha had wild thoughts of
marrying then and there, and going with him as his wife and nurse. But
this Miss Dane strenuously opposed, and poor Agatha had to bear the
strain of five months away from the one who needed her so badly. He
died, and for a time she was broken-hearted; but gradually she came to
prove the reality and comfort of her religion, and then, taking up the
interests of those around her, she had cheerfully buried her own
sorrow, and became the mainstay of her aunt and her household. Perhaps
Agatha felt most keenly being shut out from her aunt's dying room, she
certainly uttered with heartfelt fervour morning and evening, 'Forgive
us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us.'

And she had never trusted herself to mention her cousin's unjust
dealing to anyone; even her sisters had little idea how deep her
feelings were about it.

The next few days were very busy ones. Saturday brought Captain Knox,
to stay with them till Monday, and Clar