the meal. Lottie and Gideon were seated on the floor in their favourite corner. They had been conversing on what the boy had heard that day in the class, and his sister from "Mrs. 'Oldit," and trying which could best recollect the Commandments which both had been learning since the last lecture, repeating them alternately the one to the other. They had reached the Sixth Commandment when, silent and gloomy, the two men were just about to enter through the open door, and Ford stopped as if strangely arrested by the words uttered in Gideon's slow deliberate tone, Thou shalt not steal!

"No; it is Thou shalt do no murder!" said Lottie, who then stopped suddenly, terrified at finding that she had been overheard by her father and Ford, and dreading the blow that might follow.

Neither of the men, however, appeared to take notice of what they had heard. the fire, as if he felt chilly, and

gloomily into its glowing depths.

Ford walked up to gazed sternly and Perhaps at that

may have such

moment, for hardened sinners moments, slumbering conscience had been roused. by the words from the lips of a little one, like the warning of a guardian spirit; perhaps Ford was recalling what he had heard in the cottage of Holdich, "We teach those words to our children, . . . . but let us never forget that they were

first uttered by the voice of the Omnipotent God. Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not kill, were sounds unutterably awful, coming from the darkness of the thick cloud which veiled the Majesty of Heaven."

Was the warning regarded?

A

RTHUR did not attempt to study on that day, he gave the afternoon to his sisters,

seeking to lighten for them the tediousness of long hours of suspense and expectation. The day which had begun in sunshine had darkened into mist and rain, and the wild spirits of the excited girls had suffered a corresponding damp. Arthur assisted Cora in arranging her collection of dried flowers and drawings, in preparation, as she said, for a journey to London on the following day. Arthur made the occupation more cheerful by amusing conversation, his anecdotes following one another in lively succession like sparkling links on a chain. He took down his flute from the shelf on which it had lain silent for weeks, and persuaded Lina to accompany him on the piano. She found pleasure in the music, though after every piece she would start up and run to the window, to see if any one were in sight who might be the bearer of a telegram.

When twilight began to darken, Cora went to her own room to make out a list of friends to whom she

should write off the news as soon as it should reach her. Lina followed her to the door and whispered, "Has not Arthur been delightful to-day?”

"Better at any rate than Lionel, who says that he has a racking headache, and makes it an excuse for snapping like a mad dog at any one who chances to speak a word to him. No one would be more pleasant than Arthur if it were not for his strange notions about religion."

Cora did not choose to perceive that it was these very "notions" that made her younger brother lay aside the remembrance of many a bitter look and taunt, and treat a sister who had been consistently unkind, with the same gentle consideration as if she had won a personal claim to his affection.

"I cannot think what delays the telegram! exclaimed Lina with a weary sigh, as she seated herself at her brother's feet on a footstool close to the window which commanded a view of the avenue. "This cruel suspense makes one so intensely anxious! I long-yet almost dread to know the verdict!"

“Ah, Lina!” said Arthur very gently, as he laid his hand on the small clasped ones which his sister had rested on his knee, “do you not think that those who have been given hopes of a better inheritance may afford not to be anxious-not so very anxious regarding this?" Arthur feared the effect upon his sister's excitable mind, should the news so eagerly awaited bring disappointment at last.

"How can one help being anxious?" cried Lina. "Are we not commanded, dearest, to take no thought for the morrow?"

"It is a command which I cannot obey," said Lina.

"Does God ever give a command without giving power to obey it to those who seek and ask for His strength to do so?"

"It is not that I care for poverty," said Lina quickly, "I have no love of money, I could be happy anywhere-if with you-but the idea of dependence upon the charity of a man whom I hate !"

"Lina, Lina," expostulated her brother, "why thus foster bitter angry feelings, which can only disturb your peace, and which, as opposed to God's Law of Love, cannot be pleasing in His sight! I have often thought of speaking to you on this subject. It pains me to see my gentle sister carried away by the stormy current of dislike for those who really have done us no wrong."

"I do not care to disguise my feelings," said Lina proudly, withdrawing her hands from Arthur's.

"But should you not seek to bring these feelings themselves under control? You would not wish to

be ungenerous nor unjust, Lina, and prejudice tends to make us both. But to seek no other reason-we cannot nourish hatred in our hearts without breaking the express command of One who has every claim to our obedience."