id, resolved to be satisfied, and with
light, slow steps, advanced to the spot. There, with surprise, she
beheld several of her pupils. At the head of the bed stood Miss Arden,
with eyes mournfully bent upon the face of the departed; Miss Damer
stooped to kiss the corpse, and then burst into a violent flood of
tears. "That smile," said Miss Cotton, "proves that the soul is
rejoicing in heaven. Where shall we again behold upon earth one so
amiable or so lovely?"

"O, that I may be equally prepared, when my hour comes," cried Miss
Arden.

"Hush! hush!" cried Isabella Vincent, in a tone of terror, "did you not
hear some one breathe? O, do hide me." She now covered her face with her
frock.

Miss Grey took her passive hand, and tried to comfort her. "Look at Miss
Jane, and then you will not be frightened; now do look--it is so simple
to be afraid; she appears only as if she were asleep. There is not any
thing terrible in death, only to wicked people; I am sure I should not
be afraid to die to-night."

"I dare not look! indeed I dare not! do take me to my own room."

"You must look at Miss Jane, or you will always be frightened at being
alone. You know I am but a little girl as well as yourself; but I should
not be afraid to sleep here to-night. Think how good she was! living or
dead, she would never injure us."

"O, take me away: I don't know what you are saying; why does not some
one speak? O, do somebody speak, or I shall be frightened to death."

Miss Grey whispered to her companion that Mrs. Adair was come into the
room.

"Is she? O how glad I am! Now I don't mind." Saying this, she uncovered
her face, and crept quietly to Mrs. Adair; who was asking why they had
assembled in the chamber at so improper an hour.

"We should have been miserable, ma'am," said Miss Cotton, "unless we had
seen Miss Jane to-night; and as we shall never behold her again, we
thought, ma'am, you would pardon us. I could not have slept; and the
other ladies declared the same."

"But wherefore did you come, Isabella?"

"O, ma'am, because I dared not to be alone."

"But why are you afraid to look at my daughter?"

"O, I am not afraid now; I will look at Miss Jane," said Isabella with
assumed courage; "but do let me take hold of your hand, ma'am; then I
know I shall be safe."

"You have better protection than mine, my little girl, or you would be
poorly defended. He who made you, he alone can guard you: but there is
not any thing to