to say
something to comfort her, but he could not speak a word: for her grief
was caused by the thought of the very vengeance he was wishing for. He
turned away his head uneasily, and gazed deep down into the glowing
embers of the fire.

'Not my prayers and love only,' continued Miss Anne, 'but our Saviour's
also; all His griefs and sorrows may prove unavailing, as far as my uncle
is concerned. Perhaps He will say of him, "I have laboured in vain, I
have spent My strength for nought, and in vain." O my Saviour! because I
love Thee, I would have every immortal soul saved for Thy eternal glory.'

'And so would I, Miss Anne,' cried the boy, sinking on his knees. 'Oh,
Miss Anne, pray to Jesus that I may love all my enemies for His sake.'

When Miss Anne's prayer was ended, she left Stephen alone to the deep but
gentler thoughts that were filling his mind. He understood now, with a
clearness that he had never had before, that 'love is of God; and every
one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.' He must love his
enemies because they were precious, as he himself had been, in all their
sin and rebellion, to their Father in heaven. Not only did God send rain
and sunshine upon the evil and unjust, but He had so loved them as to
give His only begotten Son to die for them; and if they perished, so far
it made the cross of Christ of none effect. Henceforth the bitterness of
revenge died out of his heart; and whenever he bent his knees in prayer,
he offered up the dying petition of his namesake, the martyr Stephen, in
behalf of all his enemies, but especially of his master: 'Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge.'

CHAPTER XVII.

A NEW CALLING.

Stephen's recovery went on so slowly, that the doctor who attended him
said it would not be fit for him to resume his underground labour for
some months to come, if he were ever able to do so; and advised him to
seek some out-door employment. His old comrades began to find the weekly
subscription to make up his wages rather a tax upon their own earnings;
and Stephen himself was unwilling to be a burden upon them any longer.
As soon, therefore, as he was strong enough to bear the journey, he
resolved to cross the hills again to Danesford, to see when Mr. Lockwood
was coming home, and what help the clergyman left in charge of his duty
could give to him. Tim brought his father's donkey for him to ride, and
went with him across the uplands. The hard frosts and the snow were