pacify him, and he left the house, saying he should write that very night to his lawyer to begin proceedings at once against the two offenders.

The lady was much grieved to think into what trouble she had thoughtlessly brought her young friend, and early the next morning she went to inform her of what had passed. After a little consultation with her sister, Bessie resolved to lay the whole matter before their kind guardian. It seemed a bold step to take, but it showed the entire confidence they had in his impartial judgment.

He was very much amused at her fright, and would not set her mind at rest immediately, but said, laughingly, "What are you doing now? Bringing heavy charges against a priest to his diocesan. What is this but defamation of character?"

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'But, Dr. Doyle, it is quite true, indeed it is; the circumstances are well known in that neighbourhood. It has been attested by so many witnesses, that there cannot be a doubt of its truth."

"But my dear child, the more you say it is all true, the more you defame the priest's character. You do not know what trouble you may be getting him into, by telling me all this."

"I don't care what trouble he gets into; he richly deserves it, for bringing starvation on a worthy woman and her children."

After a few more playful sallies, Dr. Doyle took up

effect, "that having heard he intended to bring an action for defamation of character against Miss Bessie A—, and Mr. J. N- he begged to inform him

that the young lady was his ward, and therefore he desired that no proceedings might be entered into against her, and that if they had commenced, they might be immediately discontinued."

She was astonished at the peremptory style of the letter; but Roman Catholic Bishops in Ireland exercise almost absolute sway over those of their own persuasion.

Chapter Fourth.

"From darkness here and dreariness
We ask not full repose;

Only be Thou at hand to bless
Our trial hour of woes.

Is not the pilgrim's toil o'erpaid

By the dear rill and palmy shade?

And see we not up earth's dark glade
The gate of heaven unclose?"

CHRISTIAN YEAR.

CIRCUMSTANCES arose which obliged the two sisters to leave the neighbourhood; but, before alluding to them, we must take a retrospective glance.

As it had been fully determined that Bessie should embrace a conventual life, she had free access to the convent, as all viewed in her a future sister. She was allowed to walk in the garden with the nuns, and was much attached to several of them. There was one young nun near her own age, of whom she

was very fond; a mutual friendship sprang up between them; and they longed for the time when, from being under the same roof, they should be thrown more together. Their characters being quite different, made them the more dependent upon each other. Bessie's warm and ardent temperament would be softened by the quiet gentleness of her fair young friend, who in return would receive encouragement and support from Bessie's bold and fearless disposition.

When the confidence of the latter in the Church of Rome began to be shaken, she used to draw the nun to a retired part of the garden, and confide to her all her doubts. But as she increased in spiritual knowledge, and deepened in Christian experience, she took more interest in the young nun; and, considering that her fate was sealed for life, she forbore making any allusion to controversial subjects. She spoke to her only of heavenly things; and holding sweet communion together, they conversed of Christ whom their souls loved.

But when it became known that Bessie was "infected with heresy," they were watched; and as soon as they entered into conversation some of the older nuns put an end to it by joining them. After she had formally quitted the Romish Communion and become a Protestant, she still continued her visits to the con

vent, and often met priests, who disputed with her on the step she had taken, or tried to shake her confidence with awful warnings of the danger she was incurring. Sometimes the older nuns, or even the Lady Abbess, would try to persuade her of the error of her way, and of the holiness of a "religious life," supposing, from her youth, that she would be easily overpowered by their arguments. But her judgment was more matured than that of most young people of the same age, and she stood her ground firmly, though often detained for several hours by these discussions.

Dr. Doyle frequently made allusion to her visiting the convent, but she never would take his hints to discontinue going there, as she was fond of the nuns, and particularly of that young one with the clear blue eyes, open countenance, and confiding disposition, who leaned much on her judgment in spiritual things, and seemed to need the help of a friend with a strong mind and clear intellect, to lead her in right paths, and uphold her courage when it failed. But one day the Bishop said plainly to her, "I have often given you hints not to go to the convent; now I advise you plainly not to go there any more alone, as you have done."

"But Dr. Doyle, what harm can arise? They cannot detain me, as I have made up my mind not