hateful in the sight of God, who knows the need of His people, and will in due time supply that need.

My dear Arthur, I have some news to give you," said Sir Thomas Brereton, in his most patronizing tone, as he seated himself at the breakfast-table with an open letter in his hand. "I have not been neglectful of your interests; I have exerted myself, and I hope with some success, to forward your praiseworthy wish to render yourself independent of the caprices of fortune."

Such a prelude insured the attention of every one present. Mrs. Madden, having just filled the silver tea-pot, leant back smilingly in her chair to listen; Lina, for the first time in her life, felt almost kindly towards the knight.

"I have here the offer of a place for you, Arthur," continued Sir Thomas, bringing out his words slowly and emphatically, while his fore-finger rested on the letter. "It is not all that I or you might wish or desire, but still, as the proverb says, 'half a loaf is better than no bread.' Mr. Biggs, a London mer

chant, trading with Russia-senior partner in a highly respectable firm, states that he has a clerk's place at your service, salary £70 per annum, to be increased in the course of years, if satisfaction be given, to £100. If you take my advice, you will

close with the offer at once."

Arthur felt his cheek growing hot, and intuitively

glanced at Lina.

Cora burst out with a satirical expression of her scorn at such a proposal being made to a Madden.

I am sure that Arthur is eternally obliged to you for your exceeding kindness, and the very remarkable judgment which you have shown in selecting a place for which an education at Eton has so peculiarly fitted him. You hold out a worthy prize for the ambition of a young man who has won some scholastic honours. Year after year spent in a London warehouse in counting hides and weighing tallow, the luxuries of some back attic in the city, the meal at the cheap eating-house, the second-hand coat of shabby-genteel from the pawnbroker's shop. these are certainly temptations which few would be able to resist! I wonder that you do not add as a further attraction to Arthur," she added, with a meaning glance at Mrs. Madden, whose father had made his fortune in the saddlery trade, "that he may possibly rise to deal with hides in the manufactured form, and if very steady, painstaking, and persevering, win aldermanic honours at last."

Oh,

The allusion was so obvious and so insolent that the colour deepened on Mrs. Madden's smooth cheek, and Sir Thomas replied in the sneering tone which was his favourite weapon of offence, "Miss Madden has doubtless formed wiser plans of her own for setting her brothers in the way of reaching the bench of bishops or the woolsack through the help of the

influential friends in London with whom she will take up her residence next week."

Arthur felt much annoyed at his homeless sister's having exposed herself to such a retort, and spoke at once in order to cover Cora's confusion. He thanked Sir Thomas for having taken any trouble on his behalf, and said that he would not decline without due consideration any offer that gave him a chance of honourably earning a subsistence. Then, to change the current of a conversation which had become painful to all present, Arthur spoke of the invalid missionary, whose strength was so much restored that he had expressed an intention of calling to thank Mrs. Madden for the hospitality which she had proffered.

"Ah, Arthur!" exclaimed Lina, "if you could but realize your boyish wish, and go with him to the Holy Land!”

How often had the same thought crossed the mind of Arthur, though set aside as a baseless dream in which he dare no longer indulge! Arthur could not visit Palestine on his own resources, while years must elapse before he could complete the training needful for an ordained missionary. During such years, and indeed afterwards, how could his sisters subsist? For the sake of those helpless destitute girls, brought up in luxury, cradled in ease, Arthur must seek for himself some office, however repugnant to his natural tastes, which would afford some immediate salary.

A good swimmer may cheerfully breast the rough waves, and even find enjoyment in the effort, but if he has to buoy up two helpless burdens, he may well dread sinking beneath their weight. Had not Arthur Madden had a secret support of which the world knew nothing, he might have despaired of reaching the shore, and have been tempted to cast adrift, and leave to the mercy of others, at least the sister whose scorn and unkindness had been one of his bitterest trials.

A

RTHUR, dearest, can you give me a little of your time, just quarter of an hour," said Lina, as she entered the drawingroom, where her brother was engaged in separating his music from that of the rest of the family for purposes of packing.

Arthur laid aside the pieces of flute-music, and drew a chair for his sister close to his own, but Lina preferred seating herself on a footstool at his feet.

"I want you, dear Arthur, to look at this list; I was making it out before breakfast," and Lina placed in her brother's hand a long paper, on which she had written down every little article that she possessed of any pecuniary value,-jewels, lace, and other small treasures, from the silver mug given to her when she was an infant to the golden thimble which had been her last birthday souvenir.

Arthur glanced rather sadly down the list, and then asked, "Why have you placed a price beside each, my wee thing?"

"I thought I thought," said Lina, colouring and