the fire, and especially of the exertions made by her favourite brother.

"You saw Mr. Arthur, that tall gentleman there, doing great things last night," she said, suggestively, to the little girl.

"He pulled down a lot of planks, he and father; father did most, for he had the hatchet; they both worked as hard as they could."

"And they put out the fire," observed Lina.

"No," said the little girl quickly, "they didn't put out the fire. 'Oldit brought the big snake, with the little rain that hissed on the fire, but that did not put it out, then God sent the great rain from the sky, and the house fell-Oh! with such a terrible crash,”—Lottie pressed her little hands on both sides of her head-"and then the dreadful blazing stopped, and then we was not afeerd any

more."

Lina was amused by the naive and animated manner of Lottie, and began to think that there might be nothing very disagreeable after all in teaching one bright black-eyed little child, even though she was no descendant of Abraham, nor dwelt under palm-trees, nor wore the picturesque, flowing garments of the East.

Would you not like to come to me at the castle, Lottie?" said Lina in a coaxing tone. There was a very doubtful expression in Lottie's black eyes at the question. "I would teach you to read out of

one of my pretty books; wouldn't you like to be taught by a lady?"

"No," said the little girl bluntly, "I don't want to be larned by no one but Mrs. 'Oldit."

Lina's vanity was not much flattered by the preference given to the steward's wife.

"I have been rather unlucky in my attempts at philanthropy," she laughingly observed to Arthur, as the two, after taking leave of the Stones, set out on their homeward way. "The first person whom I wish to assist turns out to be quite unworthy of assistance; and the first pupil whom I offer to teach, will have nothing to do with my teaching. It is clear that I am not made for this kind of work, and had better leave it to those who better understand it."

So lightly did Lina dismiss for the time from her mind all idea of taking an active part in the Christian mission. She might not have been unwilling to do some desultory act of kindness now and then to those who excited her feelings of natural pity, or took her fancy; she was ready to play at charity, if she might stop doing so at any moment when she found the occupation irksome, or incompatible with some worldly amusement. Lina's religion was all emotion and feeling, something like a holiday garment, worn only on particular occasions; it was not suited to stand the "wear and tear" of daily work. It served to hide from her own eyes the selfishness

and vanity that lurked beneath, it made Lina seem to herself more spiritual than most of those around her, and perhaps the sharpest sting of annoyance which Arthur's conduct inflicted on his sister, was that which touched her self-love, rousing a latent suspicion that more decision, more devotedness were required of a Christian than any that she had hitherto shown. Lina had been quite satisfied with being more religious than Lionel and Cora, more unworldly than Mrs. Madden, and, until lately, Arthur's piety had had so little expression in act or word, that it had awakened no uneasiness in the conscience of his sister by contrast with her own. We should suspect that there is something wrong in the state of our hearts, when the secret wish arises that those whom we love were a little less devoted and earnest, —when, instead of being impelled by their example to press more cheerfully onward in a heavenward path, we would fain have them slacken their speed to suit our more languid and careless walk.

CHAPTER XIX.

DO not propose describing Arthur Madden's first essay in the to him-new and difficult art of teaching a set of wild, ignorant boys. He had received many practical hints from Mr. Eardley without which he would have found the task yet more arduous. He grappled to the difficulty with spirit, and soon found that the "pack of cubs," in all their variety of character, would supply him with objects of strong interest, and relieve his mind from dwelling upon more painful themes. The most discouraging feeling to the young teacher was that he was only breaking up fallow ground for another to sow in, that he was only commencing a work that another must complete. But Arthur was beginning to grasp the truth that the Christian Mission is one great work, carried on from age to age, and employing many generations of workers, yet, like the building of the Ark, or of the Temple, forming a sublime and sublime and glorious whole. Blessed they who in faith engage in the work; though but as hewers of wood or drawers of water, they are fellow labourers with apostles and martyrs;

their office, however the world may despise it, is the highest that mortal can hold. While earth's conquerors throw up their sand-hills, which the billows of time must sooner or later sweep away, God's workers build for eternity, and under the eye of their King.

It was encouraging to Arthur on the Friday evening not to miss one of his rough young pupils at the cottage meeting. Their behaviour also was more decorous than might have been expected, considering that probably none of them had ever attended a religious service before. Their teacher's presence served to quiet and overawe the village boys. Arthur was also pleased to see Lottie's scarlet cloak in the doorway, as Deborah came with her two children. Gideon was a large, heavy, silent boy; Arthur had rather regretted at first that this dull unpromising pupil should have joined his class: he soon found, however, that none of his little band. was more quiet and attentive than Gideon, more anxious to understand, or more ready to obey. As Arthur saw him seated on the floor (for the cottage did not afford a sufficient number of chairs and benches for its increased congregation), his grey eyes watching every movement of Mr. Eardley's lips, Arthur felt a peculiar interest in that afflicted boy who had suffered more sorely than his companions from the evils that had surrounded him from his birth, and who seemed to be more ready than any