the little babes in Goshen, so in after-times Herod gave stern command to slay the infants in Bethlehem. Peril alike encompassed the cradle of the future Deliverer of Israel from bondage, and of Him who was to save His people from the more terrible yoke of Satan.

It must have been very difficult to conceal the existence of a wailing babe in the home of Amram, and after the lapse of three months it was found to be possible no longer. Jochabed must give up her child. Yet, clinging fondly to the hope that God would protect the infant whom she could shelter no more, the mother made a little ark of bulrushes, which she coated with pitch and slime, and in this frail bark she placed the babe amongst the flags by the brink of the Nile.

Doubtless with a very heavy heart, Jochabed left her infant—as it seemed to perish-but Miriam, his little sister, remained to watch what should befall the helpless babe protected alone by the providence of God. Presently she beheld a band of Egyptian women approaching, one of them a lady of exalted rank. The daughter of the mighty Pharaoh, surrounded by her maidens, was descending to wash in the Nile. This princess is supposed to be the same as that one known in Egyptian history as Amense,who afterwards reigned, exercising her power conjointly with Thotmes I., who, as her husband, shared her throne.

In Jewish history the princess is called

Thermutis, and it is there recorded that she had long been married, but had not been blessed with a child. It was not by chance that the eye of Pharaoh's daughter rested on the little ark amongst the rushes, so that she gave command to one of her maidens to bring it to her. It was not mere admiration for the babe "exceeding fair," or yearning pity in the breast of the childless woman towards a weeping babe, that made Pharoah's daughter resolve to adopt that little one as her own. God, in whose hand are all hearts, shed tender compassion into the Egyptian's, and made the daughter of a tyrant the protectress of the child whom her father had doomed to destruction !

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Then with a presence of mind which was remarkable in one so young, little Miriam came forth from her place of concealment, and ventured to address the princess bending over the beauteous babe. "Shall go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?" suggested the intelligent girl. Thermutis gave her consent; and we can imagine with what eager speed Miriam would rush back to her mother, her eyes sparkling with delight, bearing the joyful tidings that the baby was safe, and under the protection of the greatest lady in the land! We can imagine with what an overflowing burst of joy and gratitude to God, Jochabed would retrace her steps to the Nile, and would receive her own babe from the princess, with

the gracious words, "Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages." How fast would fall her tears of joy upon her rescued darling, as he ceased to weep, and smiled up in her face, knowing already the touch of a mother's hand, the sound of a mother's voice! Amram and Jochabed would feel that indeed their babe had been given to them twice, and we are assured that in faith they humbly devoted that precious child unto God.

A simple but beautiful lesson is contained in the story of the infant Moses; it is, faith in the providence of God. We may commit in humble trust, not only ourselves, but those who are dearer to us than life, to the watchful care of our Lord. All our efforts to guard them from grief or danger we may feel to be feeble and insufficient, as the bulrushes woven by Jochabed's hands. The deep waters of trouble may seem to be closing around them, as the flood of the Nile round the babe; but let us confide our beloved ones to Him whose love is deeper, stronger, wiser, more abiding than our own! Let us recall His gracious promises, and rest on them the burden of our cares; Can a woman forget her sucking child? Yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee. I will never leave thee nor forsake.

CHAPTER IV.

A RISING CLOUD.

ERY slight allusion was made at the castle to the meeting in the steward's cottage.

A few jesting questions from Cora, and the subject appeared to be entirely dropped.

There was a good deal to take up the attention of the ladies at Castle Lestrange on the following day. Cora had no longer reason to complain of the dulness of the place, for most of the country gentry who lived within reach of an afternoon's drive, made then their first visit to the Maddens. Lionel also arrived from London. Just before the hour of dinner the clatter of hoofs was heard on the drive; and Lionel, who had ridden from the nearest station came up at a gallop, pulled up his horse, flung the rein to a groom, dismounted, and strode up the marble steps into the hall.

The young man was not received by his family with much demonstration of affection; Lionel was one who rather despised "sentiment and that sort of thing," and considered a nod and "How are you all?" quite sufficient greeting. The late ensign in

Her Majesty's -th, had still something military in his appearance, and when in the home circle assumed a somewhat overbearing manner, which in society was overlaid with a smooth politeness, not altogether free from affectation. The haughty impatient spirit of the young man was but lightly covered over by this conventional smoothness; as Cora once laughingly observed the electro-plating was thin, a very little rubbing would show the brass underneath. Though not so tall as his brother's, Lionel's figure was good his features were more regular than Arthur's, but his brow was less broad, his eye less thoughtful than those of his younger brother.

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Conversation flowed free and fast at the dinner table at the castle. Lionel had just come from watching in London the progress of the law-suit, and gave an animated account of the proceedings which he had witnessed in court, in answer to numerous questions asked by Mrs. Madden and his sisters. Arthur was more than usually silent, and looked as if the subject were wearisome or distasteful.

"London must appear dull now," observed Mrs. Madden, after the conclusion of the meal.

"London in September is the dullest place under the sun! Not a soul left in it that can get out of it; scarce a carriage to be seen in Hyde Park, or a horseman in Rotten Row. One is glad enough to escape into the country out of the smoke, the dust, and the glare! By the bye, I've bought a new rifle;