'Not necessarily, perhaps. But Thornton, if there was a gulf over which but one in a hundred could leap, while all the rest were dashed to pieces, what would you think of the rich people who hired them to try?'

I will let you know my opinion of that amusement when it is advertised,' said her brother. 'But I tell you Alie, it's of no use to compare our opinions-we never were meant to live together.'

She laid her hands upon his shoulders, and looked up at him with a face so loving, so beseeching, so full of all that she could not say, that its light was half reflected. Her whole heart was in that look; and Thornton felt as he had never felt before, how true, how pure a heart it was - how unspeakably reasonable in all its requests. But his own unhumbled nature, the blind pride which will serve sin rather than God, because He is the rightful ruler of the universe, rose up within him; and silently laying his hands upon his sister's lips, Thornton disengaged himself and walked away to the dinner table.

CHAPTER X.

Jaques. Let's meet as little as we can.

Orlando. I do desire we may be better strangers.

As You Like It.

She

EVENING found Rosalie alone in the parlour. had listened to her brother's departing step until even her fancy could hear it no longer, and the approaching ones were dull now and void of interest. The sleigh bells jingled yet, almost as merrily as ever, but with a somewhat different effect; for the sun had taken leave of the cold earth, and Jack Frost had sent out his myrmidons. The little beggar children began to retreat slowly and shivering to their dens of sin and sorrow; hopeless of anything from the goers by,

whose rapid pace they could hardly check; and home, of one sort or another, seemed to be in everybody's heart. Why was it not in Thornton's?

His sister would have been comforted to know that it was in his heart,—that even then, as he met a party of gay friends and joined their walk, he remembered the one being whom he had never wished to see less unspotted from the world; more pure, to his fancy, she could not be. He thought of her, and of the bright pleasure he might give and take where she was. And yet he came not,-and the soft twilight fell gently upon her, and gay lights blazed down upon him. Fit emblems of the spirit of each heart. The one a bright artificial glare,—in the other a mingling of darkness indeed, but what light there was, from heaven!

So deep was Rosalie in her own reflections-devising ways and means to make herself more agreeable and home more attractive-that a ring at the door was unnoticed; and it was not till Tom announced,

'A gentleman, ma'am,'

that she recollected how much rather she would be alone, But he was there, and there was no help for it.

A young man, whose character lay not all on the surface. His aspect was singularly grave and quiet-by some people called morose; but the eye from its calm depth sent back no shadow of misanthropy, and if the mouth spoke selfcontrol it spoke with sweetness. And when a smile camewhich indeed was not very often-the person in the world who liked him least would have done something to prolong or to bring it back. There was also about him a singular air of power, without the least assumption of it. It was the sort of fortress-like strength, the sure position taken and held unshrinkingly within the walls of truth and moral courage; and withal, the perfect freedom and fearlessness of one who has himself well in hand. Able too he seemed,

'IT IS WELL WITH HER.'

73

to wage offensive warfare-yet he rarely did. The eye might fire and the cheek glow, and that sense of power strike disagreeably upon the beholder; but when the word came, it came with the very spirit of love and gentleness—and was the more powerful. The effect was neither hurt feeling nor wounded pride,-the effort was not to destroy but to build up. Yet for this very thing, so unlike themselves, many of his own age disliked and shunned him. They could not endure to trust a man thoroughly because his face commanded that trust; nor to feel themselves rebuked by his presence when he had not uttered a word.

For a moment, in the darkness, Rosalie looked with some doubt at the stranger; but she had quickly met him half way, with a look of great pleasure and the exclamation,

"Mr. Raynor !'

His look was as bright and more demonstrative, till he saw hers change and every particle of light pass from it; and not guessing the associations which a friend so long unseen had called up, not knowing what had taken place during his absence; Mr. Raynor said with more anxious haste than caution,

'You are all well? your brother is not ordered away?' 'No, he is here and quite well,' she said, but turning a little from him.

'And your mother?'

It was too much. The heart's cry of sorrow was suppressed, but it was with almost passionate bitterness that Rosalie threw herself down on a seat, exclaiming,

'Well? O yes!—it is well with her! But for that my heart would have broken long ago!'

He understood it all then,—his eye took note of her dress he knew what some lost letters would have told him; but shocked, grieved, as he was, a few minutes passed beforo he knew what to say or how to speak. The words

were spoken then with that quiet steadiness which insensibly gives strength.

'Yes, it is well!-Well with you too, my dear Miss Clyde-For "it cannot be ill with him whose God is"!'

O what a long breath answered him!—of weakness and weariness and faith, and again weakness! She did not move nor raise her head.

'Alie,' said little Hulda opening the door, may Tom get some New-year cookies for tea, or would you rather have only dough-nuts?'

Mr. Raynor turned quickly, and taking a chair at some distance from Rosalie he intercepted the little intruder, very much to her dissatisfaction.

'Let me go, sir, if you please,' she said; struggling, though very politely, to get away from the arm that was round her. 'Please sir let me go!'

6

'Not quite yet,' he said, gently placing her upon his lap and kissing her. Have you quite forgotten me, Hulda ?' 'No sir, because I never saw you before.?'

'That is being forgotten, with a witness. Did you never hear of a little girl who once took her doll out to ride, and then dropped that unfortunate young lady from the carriage window into the mud?'

"O yes!' said Hulda, 'indeed I have! And are you the nice gentleman that picked her up for me, sir?'

'I had the pleasure of picking her up for you. Whether I am nice or not you seem to be a little doubtful.'

'OI remember all about it!' said the child, sitting up now with a pleased and interested look. 'I haven't thought of it in a great while. I was so glad dolly's face wasn't clear down in the mud-and oh the mud was so thick! And her dress was all black in front-do you remember?' 'No, I remember nothing about her dress.'

'Don't you?' said Hulda,-'well I remember perfectly

DOLLY IN THE MUD.

75

well. And don't you remember sir how the other gentleman laughed because I loved my doll so much?'

'Nay I think that was not the reason he laughed.'

'O yes it must have been,' said Hulda, 'because you know there was nothing else to laugh at. But mayn't I go now, sir? I want to speak to Alie.'

'I don't think she wants you half so much as I do. How many new dolls have you had since then, Hulda ?'

'O I haven't had any,' said she smiling. 'I've got the same one yet.'

'You must be a careful little body,' said her friend. "Yes I suppose. I am,' said Hulda folding her hands with a grave air, as if she had been about fifty; 'but then I don't play with dolls now much-I haven't much time.'

'Does Miss Rosalie keep you so busy? I should hardly have thought that.'

"O no, sir, that isn't the reason-she'd let me play a great deal. But then,' said Hulda, looking off with a contemplative face, 'I'd rather talk to her. Thornton always goes out, you know, and so she'd be all alone if it wasn't for me.'

A shade of very deep displeasure crossed the gentleman's face while she spoke; but happily absorbed in swinging her little feet and watching the shadows that flickered up and down the wall, Hulda saw it not. Neither did Rosalie, whose eyes were yet shielded by her hand. But old knowledge of the face and character supplied the want of sight,her hand was taken down and she turned and spoke,

'What did you want of me, Hulda ?'

"O-only about the cake for tea,' said Hulda twisting herself round. 'Tom didn't know whether you wanted him to get some New-year cookies.'

'Send for what you like, dear, and let us have tea at once.' And Hulda went,-wondering very much at the kiss with which Mr. Raynor had released her; it was such a