Burlton to select whichever met with his approbation. Sister Cecilia brought one to show to Annie one afternoon. It was very beautiful, and the cost would prove considerable; but that was evidently no consideration. It seemed quite a privilege to be allowed to have any share, either in the work or in contributing towards the purchase of materials for it."

"The altar,” replied Mr. Marsden, "is absolutely essential to their system of doctrine. But the Church of England acknowledges no such thing. The word altar never once occurs in the Prayer-book.

“But these ritualists must have an altar. For the ultimate end of their teaching is to exalt an earthly priesthood; to place a man in the position of Christ. Everything is done in their churches to attract the eye of the worshipper towards the altar. It is adorned with ornamental coverings decorated with the choicest flowers, etc., and wherefore ? because there, on that altar, is supposed to be offered the sacrifice for sin. Who then are the offerers of this unbloody sacrifice? Why, the officiating priests! The plain drift of so much importance being attached to the altar, is the power it appears to give to the priests. Take away the altar, and you take away the key-stone of the arch by which the whole superstructure is supported. There is no such thing on earth as a sacrificing priest, a propitiatory sacrifice, or an altar, excepting that which is embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ."

This conversation was abruptly stopped by Isabel coming into the room, bringing a letter for Emily that had arrived by the afternoon's post.

"I expect it is from Annie de Vere," said she, handing the letter to Emily.

Then, turning to her father, said, "I am going down

to the village; have you anything you wish me to do for you there?"

“No, thank you, love," said her father; "I am going there myself, so we may as well walk together, and leave Emily to read her friend's letter."

"Oh! stay a minute!" exclaimed Emily, "I see from this the de Veres think of coming to Lower Westcombe. How delightful! Just wait, Isabel, till I have finished reading the letter; it is only a short one."

Isabel readily waited.

"It appears," continued Emily, "that her grandmamma has been dangerously ill, and the doctors have ordered her to be removed at once to a warm and sheltered place, and they think nowhere in England so suitable as Lower Westcombe. Annie wishes us to let them know at once if Langleigh Hall is vacant, and if it is not, they will try and be content with Dovecot, where the Arundels spent one winter; but they would much prefer the former if it is at liberty. Do you happen to know, Isabel?"

"Yes, it is vacant! I passed by there yesterday, and I observed a board with the words 'To be let' painted on it, attached to the gate; so, Emmy, you can write this afternoon and tell them so; and be sure and say how happy we shall be to do anything for them to help forward any preparations they may desire."

"How very curious we should hear of their proposed arrival just now, when we were talking so much about them," said Mr. Marsden.

"I am so glad of it," added Emily; "dear Annie! I do so love her. I shall tell Cousin Allan, that he will have now a first-rate opportunity to exercise all his powers, persuasive and argumentative, not only on dear Annie, but

upon Sir Arthur himself; and I hope he will succeed, at all events, better than I have ever been able to do."

"If," said Mr. Marsden, "Allan may be the means of leading this weary and misled child, to find rest in Him who is alone the Saviour of the world; and to cease from her own works, be they church ornamentation, fastings, prayers, or from resting in an earthly priesthood, let us indeed thank God; and while we know that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, and that the riches of the full assurance of understanding are inestimable blessings, may she possess not only these, but may she likewise know in her own soul the love of Christ which passeth knowledge."

DAYS, weeks, months have passed away! spring-tide has given place to the glorious summer season; autumn has well-nigh gone. Though the seasons have glided on with their wonted regularity, little change has taken place in the circumstances of Annie de Vere since we last opened her journal.

Her daily life to others appeared fair and lovely. There was nothing externally to mar its perfection. The world smiled upon her, sought to engage her with its many fascinations; and when partaking of its pleasures, she

seemed, to the eye of her friends, to drink freely of its

waters.

But the "heart knoweth its own bitterness; " and as it found little real satisfaction in worldly excitement, resolved to seek for happiness elsewhere.

At length she experienced a peculiar sweet and peaceful sensation pervade her spirit, whenever she engaged in prayer alone, within the sacred stillness of the church.

This private retirement within the walls of St. Hilda's church, had been very strongly advised by Dr. Burlton, when upon one occasion she had resorted to him to “open her grief."

The mellow light that penetrated through the darkly stained windows. The silence, the solemnity attached to a sacred edifice, all affected her. Then she fancied she was immediately in the presence of God, and that this sacred spot, from whence her prayers arose, rendered them more acceptable. For hours she would thus repair to St. Hilda's, not always to pray, but to kneel and meditate. Low sweet music would have had precisely the same soothing effect upon her.

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Having found such-like alleviations for her misery, for some time she was peculiarly peaceful. Her conscience was pacified. She felt that she was leading a more ligious life," and a calm complacency pervaded her spirit. Thus the Holy Spirit, who had led her to see something of the emptiness of the world's pleasures was quenched. The tempter lulled her into a state of fancied security, conducted her from the world, which is his grand arena, and led her into a quiet secluded little spot, a so-called church (a counterfeit of the true) wherein many souls are gathered, and who by their worshipping an unknown god, are led on and on, even into idolatry.

But again there was to be a ruffling of the stream, all was not to go on for ever so peacefully.

About this time Lady de Vere was seized with a very dangerous illness.

Now Annie fondly loved her grandmamma; we therefore can easily imagine the anxiety with which she watched and nursed her. Days succeeded nights of weariness, nights succeeded days of watchfulness, still the sickness lingered, it "might be unto death."

At this time Annie found but little comfort in her formal religion. She could not now leave her grandmamma for any length of time, or as frequently as she had been wont, that she might attend church services, or even for retirement at stated hours to her favourite dark corner in the church. Also within that darkened chamber, where for days the angel of death seemed to hover with his sharpened sickle in his hand, eternity then appeared to her a reality. Eternity! eternity! the word oftentimes haunted her—was she preparing rightly for it?

At length, however, her grandmamma appeared to rally; the doctors spoke hopefully, and from Annie's journal we find prescribed a remedy which gladdened her heart.

"Oct. 1st.-Good news to write to-night: darling grannie is better. Pronounced by the doctors quite out of danger; they say we must take her at once down to Westcombe. How singular they should name this locality! I quite expected Arthur would object to going down there; but he was delighted with the proposal, as he will thus be near his friend Mr. Silverton; I am equally pleased to be near my friend Emily. Sister Cecilia is to go with us. She has been very kind and