an entire confession to your priest, you must not omit any thing for fear or shame. If you feel any difficulty in acknowledging any particular sin, tell your confessor that you experience this difficulty, and ask him to assist you; and then answer his questions with candour and openness. After the priest has given you his blessing, you can retire, rejoicing that God has forgiven you, and restored you to His favour."

"I never should have thought of going to confession," remarked Annie, as soon as Sister Cecilia paused; "besides, I am sure grandmamma would never approve of my doing so."

"Oh!" replied her friend, "you need not consult her on this matter; it is entirely an affair between yourself and the Church. If it is for the good of your soul, no one has any business to interfere with you. If you will take my advice, Miss de Vere, you will attend the confessional regularly."

The young people were here interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Burlton, who had been engaged all the afternoon shopping and visiting. She was very pleasant, highly pleased to see Miss de Vere, whom she entertained very much with lively descriptions and amusing anecdotes connected with that afternoon's employment.

"Come, Cecilia," said she, "put away your work, and take a little rest. The evenings are getting dark, draw your chairs, dear girls, around the fire, and let us be sociable. I am so fond of fire-light, one always gets so friendly and confidential. We have half an hour to spare before even-song."

Annie thought this would be a good opportunity for her to try and ascertain, what were Mrs. Burlton's opinions respecting worldly amusements, etc.

These, she easily discovered, were much the same as her friend's, Kathleen Arundel, with this exception, that she laid great stress on the duty of remembering that there were times and seasons for everything. She said it always distressed Dr. Burlton and herself so much to see how some of their friends neglected the holy season of Lent and "Fridays" when issuing their invitations.

"But," continued Mrs. Burlton "our dear Sister Cecilia you see, Miss de Vere, is saved all these little vexatious difficulties, and temptations, by having followed a vocation, and retired from the world altogether."

Annie did not reply, but thought she did not particularly envy Sister Cecila's vocation, high and holy as it might be. What she had seen of the daily routine of the sisters' life she did not admire. All'seemed cold and cheerless, lifeless, and reserved. Likewise the silent system, which during certain hours of the day was rigidly observed, appeared to her dreariness personified. Still she admired sister Cecilia for her self-denying life, although at present she had no desire to follow her example, having also discovered that Mrs. Burlton saw nothing inconsistent in mixing in worldly society, and did so herself; she cast aside the unpleasant suggestions that Allen Arundel's remarks that afternoon had awakened in her mind.

Perhaps, thought she, he might be wrong or infatuated with the advice of some friends, or narrow-minded; she would think no more about it.

Then, if she followed the advice of Sister Cecilia, and attended the confessional, if she did act wrongly in persuing her own way, this would prove a relief to her. That evening she went to another large ball, danced, laughed, and appeared the most cheerful in the room. Still she was not happy.

D

About this time she began to keep a journal, or rather note-book, for the entries in it were made at different intervals, just short sketches of her own thoughts and feelings.

We will quote from it occasionally, as by this means the reader will gain further insight into Annie's character. "Dec. 15th, 18—.

"Arthur returned to-day from Oxford; went together to evensong. The church very quiet and solemn; the world seemed shut out. I enjoyed the tranquillity much. Arthur quite approves of my decision to attend confession; I shall do so before Christmas. I rather dread the ordeal; it does not appear natural to me. I hardly think Allan or Emily Marsden would approve of it; still the Burltons and Sister Cecilia tell me it is my duty to confess regularly to my priest. I am willing to do anything for peace of mind; I feel as if I cannot be quiet, sometimes I long for change or excitement, or ..

"Dec. 21st, 18—.

"Feast of St. Thomas.

"Went to confess this morning. How strange that word confess looks. Felt very nervous; however Dr. Burlton helped me through with what I had prepared to say. When I went into the church I met a young woman coming out; feeling very timid, I asked her where I should find Dr. Burlton. She pointed to the vestry. Poor soul! she seemed to have been weeping bitterly, for her eyes were very red, and her face was swollen.

"Dr. B. asked me a great many questions-questions I did not anticipate. But Sister Cecilia tells me it is pride,

pride of heart that makes me shrink from the investigations of my priest; pride, I know, is my besetting sin.

"I have promised to be more careful about fasting and prayer. Dr. B. says I must be more diligent in attendance on all ordinances; fast more regularly, be more self-denying, find some sphere of usefulness, before I can hope to retain a peaceful mind.

66

CHAPTER III.

See the symbol holy blest,
Broidered on the priestly vest,
Token of the pangs untold,
Mockingly enwrought in gold,
'Mong the worldling's jewels strung,

On the flaunting bosom hung!"

Devotional Lays.

CHRISTMAS-TIDE drew nigh. Excitement and preparation

for this high festival prevailed. Fair fingers were engaged in entwining and weaving the holly and the laurel into mystic emblems, for the church's ornament. "The sisters" during their "hours of silence" were occupied with what they considered a meritorious act, even the preparation of the "holy garments" for the priests. Each had her portion assigned her, according to her own peculiar talent and skill; all were busily occupied at this holy

season.

The thoughts that filled the minds of the sisters were various. Some bent complacently over their work, meditating on the high offices in the Church to which they had

devoted themselves. Sister Cecilia was one of these. How much better, thought she, to be thus employed, than to be mixing in any of the world's pleasure at this hallowed season! Others, there were, who while busily plying their needles, and working industriously at their embroidery frames, permitted their thoughts to wander to their home circle, where especially at this time of year loving brothers and sisters are wont to gather around the home fireside.

Are we thus called to separate ourselves from those to whom we are bound by the ties of nature? Has God placed us in social positions, and then meant families thus voluntarily to be divided? Is there any virtue in this kind of secluded life?

"I cannot," says Milton, "praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but shrinks out of the race, where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat." Is not this retired and cloistered life that many desire, a life of cowardice? Is it not shrinking from daily conflict with the world?

Christmas-day at length arrived. It had been a day long desired by Dr. Burlton and his friends.

The chancel of St. Hilda's church was that day to be re-opened.

The altar was duly vested in white, supported on either side by choice plants. The super-altar was laden with a profusion of hot-house flowers, arranged in bouquets. Behind the altar a handsome crucifix had been erected, on each side of which had been placed two gigantic gold candlesticks. The decorations on this occasion had been confined chiefly to the sanctuary.