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doing well" meant. They seem to get rich at a mighty pace out there: I hope it's got honestly, and not by any tricks and jugglings. Owen was always straightforward and downright, and it isn't just like him to keep the truth in the background.'

“I dare say not,' replied her guest; but he meant to do it "surprising." He knows how to lift the latch and find his way in, and a good welcome.'

"Ah, that he does, and the child shall too; but not 'Lisbeth. No; she shall never lift the latch of my door.'

"In this kind of exciting talk the evening wore away. Johnson had much to say of Australian life, and Rina was a ready listener; but at length he declared he must be off, and she bustled away to prepare supper for him. This he refused. 'Give me some water from the cool well, and I'll say thank you, and be on my journey. I've travelled with your grandson miles and miles in Australia, and we took nothing but fresh water from the spring-we were that temperate, and it's grown into a habit.'

"Rina put on her pattens and took her jug to the well, but the cord had got entangled, and

she was some time unfastening it. She heard nothing more than the sound of the rusty chain on the windlass, and no one passed near her; yet, when she returned to the house, the pedlar was gone.

"She thought it strange, and waited for his reappearance; but after standing to listen in the doorway until she shivered with the cold, she gave up the idea of seeing him again, and drew in the latch-string for the night: then, remembering that next day her rent was due to Squire Hardie, she went to her ledger-book (the old clock), counted a certain number of strokes on the side panel to see the amount required, and opened the clock-case. A pair of old shoes hung within one of these she took to the light and turned it over on the table-for in this strange place Rina Cliffe kept her savings for the year, the other hiding-place being devoted to her daily receipts. It was empty! No use to shake it, or turn it over and over-nothing of the treasure remained! Perhaps she had brought the wrong one, was her hope, though there ought to have been eighteenpence there; but, alas! the other shoe was equally rifled of its contents, and Rina's bright sovereigns, so hardly earned, were gone!

"In dismay and confusion, and no slight rage,

The dark cold night started off at once to

she thought of the pedlar. was no hindrance, and she give the alarm. A distant sound of voices led her towards the common, and there she caught her foot in crossing the narrow plank and fell.

"How long she may have lain there she has no idea; but she is likely to lie long enough where she is at present, Dr. Percy says, if she recovers the shock, which at her age is at least doubtful."

"Poor Rina! this is sad news, papa."

"Yet who knows what great good may result from it?" he replied; "it takes a stronger force than the chisel to shape the rough, hard granite that is hereafter to be polished and made fit for its appointed place in the church.".

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CHAPTER VI.

THE CAROL ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

"White snow lies thick upon the ground, and all about the door;
The children's footsteps gather round, where none had trod before.
Yes, there is one that all along is printed on the snow,
For thus, to carol Christmas songs, children and Robin go."

E. M. L.

EVALINDA and her cousin Olive Gresley stood in the window of the library, silently admiring the peaceful scene before them; it was Christmas eve, and a fair night to usher in so fair a morn. The wide-stretching fields, white and glistening in the moonlight, scarcely showed a trace of the hedgerows interlining them, except that here and there a tall pollard ash or willow stood out dark and rugged, like an ancient landmark no storm had dared to remove. But yesterday their shadows fell across green meadows and furrowed lines of tender wheat or rougher fallow; now they were laid in more distinct lines upon a snow-white pall, pure and unsullied. Hazelmere hid its clustering cottages among the shades of the guardian trees

and hill, bringing out its own beautiful church alone, for the glorious moonlight to light each window in the clerestory and basement with pale transparent lustre, and to touch with silver tracing each inwrought niche, or pinnacle, or boldly outlined buttress.

"What an exquisite evening!" exclaimed Olive at length; "I think it would even inspire Nigel with a fraction of sentiment. I see you are not unmoved by it. Give me the benefit of your thoughts, unless you have been wasting ideas, like I have, in our long silence."

Linda smiled. "I was just repeating to myself some lines which may answer you:

"Far-stretching snow-clad uplands, glistening bright,
Like robes of holy saints, so pure and white,
Lay in their wondrous beauty, heavenly fair,
Silver'd with moonlight's soft and misty air.

"A guardian angel to my soul drew nigh,
And whispered softly, Thou, alas, must die!
Pray that Christ's robe of purity may be
Laid up in store at heaven's gate for thee.'"

"You were thinking of the pure, fresh-fallen snow," said Olive. "Yes, its association with heavenly purity is natural, but I had not thought of it before. My ideas fly away, like the swallows, which we look for as usual on a fine autumn day, and find, to our surprise, that they are all

H