but a complete enthusiast when his feelings are strongly awakened. Your story, added to the interest already taken in your fate, has excited them greatly."

"And he has taken a most erroneous view of my character," added Rachel sorrowfully.

"Consider, my dear, he had been led to regard you with something worse than suspicion; and when he heard that your sufferings were for righteousness' sake, it occasioned such a very gratifying turn in his mind, that he might and did express himself in too commendatory a style Perhaps, before long, you may be tempted to speak no less highly of him, while he would disclaim your praises as sincerely as you do his. We all, I trust, know the plague of our own hearts, and the infinite holiness of Him with whom we have to do, too well to judge ourselves as favourably as our fellow sinners may judge us. They see something good in our actions; we feel the imperfection, mixture, and defilement of our motives: they confess we do much; we know that we do not half what we might, and ought to do. When Joseph called you a mar

tyr, he referred to your fortitude and self-denial in rejecting the tempting proposal of the widow and her son. In your dismissal from the Hall, you were certainly the cause of your own misfortune, not by giving counsel to the poor girl Kitty, because in that you did well, and the Lord would have supported you in your upright dealing but when you left the retirement so providentially assigned you," she interrupted her self-when you accepted the situation, were you aware that you should live separate from the other domestics?"

"No; I wished, but did not expect it."

"Then my child, the Lord did more for you than you asked or thought; and I date the com. mencement of your misfortunes from your first voluntary association with those whom you knew to be enemies of Him you professed to serve. It is a little step, Rachel, an easy step, and a step we are continually tempted to take, that leads us from the strait path of duty. Oh, what has been His mercy, to follow the wanderer, and even with the scourge to drive her back

8

from the howling wilderness of destruction to the safe and quiet shelter of His fold!"

During this discourse, Rachel felt how faith. ful are the wounds of a friend. The intimate knowledge that Mrs. Haynes appeared to possess of her error and its consequences,-—a knowledge that christian experience alone could give,-re. minded her forcibly of the support she was wont to receive from her aunt, and from Mary Carnes. Of the latter she thought with much pain and self-reproach, but secretly hoped the intelligence of her disgrace had not reached the old woman's solitary hovel.

Mrs. Haynes proposed reading to her a portion of God's word, upon which she commented with much simplicity and pathos, concluding with earnest prayer: then, bidding Rachel compose herself to rest, silently pursued her own tion over her work.

medita

Rachel long kept her eyes upon the lively, yet placid countenance of her kind nurse. She thought, "By their fruits ye shall know them ;' and yet I have suffered prejudice almost to warp my mind concerning these people, because their

parase is sometimes uncouth and affected, and the corruptions of a fallen nature visibly striv. ing against the renewed spirit of their minds. I have inwardly censured, if not despised them, for what I ought to have pitied, and especially remembered before the throne of grace; not un. frequently comparing myself with them, and glorying in the supposed contrast. How am I now humbled at their feet! They have proba. bly mourned and prayed over those infirmities that I have been secretly blaming, and the world scoffing at. They are counted as the offscouring of all things; but they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.'

999

Of William she endeavoured not to think, except in fervent prayer, in which she was much encouraged. She continued too weak to leave her own room; and no tidings having arrived of Haynes, from the Tuesday to the Thursday evening, his wife secretly dispatched a messenger to learn the cause of his delay, and to en. quire concerning the duty of his little chapel, on the following night.

1

CHAPTER VI.

"Parting soul! the flood awaits thee,
And the billows round thee roar ;
Yet look on-the crystal city

Stands on yon celestial shore!
There are crowns and thrones of glory;
There the living waters glide;
There the just, in shining raiment,
Wander by Immanuel's side."

THE cares of Mrs. Haynes were needless; on the noon of Friday a letter was received from the preacher, and perused with intense interest by his affectionate helpmate. It ran thus

"Dearest Hannah,

"Thursday Morning.

"The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth;' of that we are assured; and equally certain it is