page.

“The people he met, and the various scenes he must have witnessed, are nothing to him; he has passed through them on to his own purpose, indifferent as ever to all that does not concern it."

"Indeed," said Mrs. Gresley, "you may be very thankful that your brother Nigel possesses that rare gift you have been descriving, a steadfast purpose. It is impossible to prize his churacter too highly: dependableness' is written upon it; and I would rather have ten words from him than twenty more amusing but meaningless pages."

"Mamma," said Olive, "my good brother is worthy of all honour; his actions always spear for themselves. My attack is simply directed to his letters; for instance, if we did not knov” him., how could we possibly understand and apprecia him by such a brief account of himself as this? Linda, you profess to think tuat al ordinary ULstudied letter tells great things; read this, and give me your opinion."

Linda took it quietly from its envelope to se and study its characters by the glancing the light, then slowly replacing it, but replied: "1 think the letter is very like the writer. The win

servings, but according to my need, be merciful, O gracious Lord."'

"Miss Linda, I took my own way, and little heeded mother's advice; so my temper soon got to be my master, and like enough it is to keep so, I'm afraid, still. As I lie here, not able to stir, I've time given me to think about it all. Sometimes the pain hinders me; but when I'm easier, you'd be surprised how often my thoughts go back to the old school-room, and I seem to hear Mrs. Oakley talking to me as she used to do, and I wish I hadn't torn that text out of my book, 'Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is counted wise.'

"Not too late to mind it now, did you say, Miss Linda? Ah, well, I hope it isn't. And now let's have the first of St. Matthew, and don't you miss the generations.' I like to hear them; they bring it in from Abraham to Joseph so true. You can read about the Star in the East after, if you 're not tired. Dear me! I should have had nothing of a Christmas if you hadn't come in."

As Linda left the cottage Joan Price followed her out, and carefully closed the door behind her. "If you please, Miss Linda," she said timidly, "I want to speak a word to you. I've got a heavy trouble on my mind, and I can't trust to any one

but you; I can get no rest day nor night," sobbed Joan, "for thinking of it."

"What is it, Joan? I will help you if I can," said Linda, kindly.

"I don't know what it is, Miss Linda; but I'm afraid to speak lest Martin should get into trouble. You wondered to see me here; but you won't wonder when you've looked at this letter, if you take it to mean the same as I think."

Linda read :

"DEAR MOTHER,

"I hope this finds you well, as it leaves me, but very unhappy. I'll tell you the truth, and then you'll know the worst, and you must forgive me. I'm not working on the new line, as you think—I'm off from Plymouth this day on board the Eryx; and it's the best thing that could happen, for I got acquainted with some fellows on the line that would have done me no good, and when I meant nothing but a bit of mischief, they turned the joke into wicked earnest. It's nothing but what I shall make amends for some day, you may be sure of that. They say I'm put more for'ard in my place as cabin-boy than many a lad that's been in the service a year.

And after a while I shall save some money, you'll see. I hope Rina wasn't much hurt. You must wait on her, mother, and keep the black donkey out of her garden. The palings in the corner want mending; I broke them down on purpose, but I'm sorry for it now. I've got Miss Linda's books that she gave me, and I read 'em. So no more at present from your affectionate son,

"MARTIN PRICE.”

"I think I can guess your fears," said Linda, gravely. "Did Martin know where Rina kept her money?"

"That's just what I can't say, Miss Linda; but it's likely enough he spied it out through the window. I'll never believe but it was meant to be a trick, and the money put back again. Two others went off besides Martin as soon as it got reported Rina Cliffe had been found lying dead by the footpath. O dear! what shall I do? Rina was always wishing he might be sent to prison or transported, and now perhaps it will all happen."

"Never mind future troubles, Joan; you have enough to meet in the present. Come to the Rectory and consult with my father about Martin; he is a wiser counsellor than I know how to be."

151

CHAPTER VIII.

A SONG OF PEACE.

"Lift, oh lift, thou lowering sky;
Drifts of snow, pass quickly by ;
Flitting leaves, chase gloom along;
Peace is coming-hear her song."

LINDA CONWAY's visit to Mrs. Peterson was delayed for some months by a visit to Clevedon with her cousin Olive, while Mrs. Gresley remained to take as many household cares at the Rectory as Joyce Archer would hand over to her, and to rejoice in a peaceful quiet that suited well both her health and inclination. But at length the time came when she was recalled to the less inviting and busier scenes of her own home-life at Richmond Terrace; and the early summer, with its tempting meadows newly restored to their freshest green, found Linda once more alone in her old haunts; wandering by the dreamy Haze to gather the choice bouquet of river flowers with which it was her