fruits which are the work of the Spirit in our hearts, for without them we cannot expect to possess the comfort of this assurance; the Holy Ghost refuses to give His consolations when we are refusing to seek His influence. At such times he suffers darkness and clouds of unbelief to intercept our enjoyment: therefore we should not only strive to be well established in doctrine, but to be diligent in cultivating those graces of the Spirit, which are graciously permitted to be a means of assuring our own hearts of the blessed effects of the doctrines, which, when fully received, produce such evidences."

The conversation was here interrupted by the entrance of a stranger, and Mary and her brother took their leave.

On the way home, Mary appeared silent and thoughtful; her brother asked the subject of her reflections. "I was thinking of that excellent old man, and, I believe, foolishly wishing that it had been my lot to have been blessed with such a minister, for I cannot help supposing, that I should have made greater advances, had this been the case. I know his character to be so unimpeachable, and I think him so heavenlyminded and so delightful, that " "Mary, my dear, don't you know, that "that man is a very great sinner." Mary laughed at her bro

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ther's well applied remark. "I hope, however, that he will talk on Tuesday evening. I am so pleased that he consented to come." "Have you fixed on a subject for conversation, Mary? "I fixed? that is not my business, Henry, you must arrange all this." "Very well then, I think we will have an argument whether the preaching of Calvinistic doctrines does not tend to licentiousness: will this subject suit, Mary?" Mary smiled, and thought it would, and so it was agreed.

On reaching the house, they found that Mrs. Wilmot and her two daughters had been calling in their absence, and left a message with the elder Mr. Conroy, respecting the party to see the pictures; which, owing to some unavoidable occurrence, was to be delayed to the following week; the morning after the day on which what her brother called "Mary's Soirée" was to be held. The uncle meantime advanced, and with a significant smile presented his nephew with something very carefully enveloped in silver paper, which, on opening, he perceived to be another attempt to render his church immortal; he looked over it, and turning away, gave a sigh of hopelessness. Both Mary and her uncle laughed heartily, in which after a time he found himself constrained to join.

"Is not it hard that I am forced to accept these girls' drawings, whether I will or not, when I so positively refused? I declare it is quite stupid of them."

"Stupid! my dear nephew, any thing but that; they want to secure your good wishes, and think these little attentions the best way to attain their object."

"They take a wrong method, for I cannot be teased with such kindnesses; there is nothing annoys me so much as that sort of thing."

"I tell you what, my dear Henry, there is nothing would annoy you more than not meeting with some of these attentions: it is all very well to feel teased by some little extra civilities; but you would feel very much surprised, not to say disappointed, if you found yourself excluded from them altogether :-come, come, I must take the poor young ladies' part, they certainly meant well, but they ought to know better than to torment and tease a gentleman's life out with their injudicious and unasked-for civilities! such errors are not to be excused or palliated; I would tell them so, lest they incur the indignation of all the single gentlemen in the neighbourhood!" This was said with the uncle's well-understood tone of satire, and Henry said something in explanation, to which the

other replied, that they must some day commence the discussion they were to have, bearing on the subject of celibacy, &c. Mary changed the conversation, by inquiring if her uncle had heard where Cora Wilmot was, that she had not accompanied her mother and sisters. He had heard them say, that she was well, but knew no further.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CALL UNTO ME, AND I WILL ANSWER THEE, AND SHEW THEE GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS, WHICH THOU KNOWEST NOT.' Jer. xxxiii. 3.

THE SOUL OF THE DILIGENT SHALL BE MADE FAT.'

Prov. xiii. 4.

TOWARDS evening, Mary, having left her uncle and brother together, took a walk across some fields leading towards Mrs. Wilmot's residence. She had not gone far, when she saw some one seated on an old stump of a tree, and approaching nearer, was greatly pleased to find Cora Wilmot quietly examining a paper she held in her hands; on hearing a footstep, she turned and recognised Mary with an expression of much satisfaction. After a little time she took up her paper, telling Mary that she had written down several difficulties she had found since their first evening's conversation, and was just then looking them over, and wishing