favour with man as well as with God, and whose early Church "praised God, and had favour with all the people," only in those days the favour of God was sought first and last, and before all.

"Lord, what a change within us, one short hour

Spent in thy presence will prevail to make ;
We kneel-and all around us seems to lower;
We rise and all, the distant and the near,

Stands forth in sunny outline brave and clear."-TRENCH. After that hour's communion, strength, and sunshine, Hester could again take courage, and be of good cheer, thanking God from her heart that she belonged to those who, though weak and sinful and inconsistent, were yet struggling to be on the "right side," in these days of solemn strife, and who were considered by the great holy God as his tenderest charge. "Whoso toucheth my people, toucheth the apple of mine eye," said He who took one for "His friend," and named another "a man after his own heart," from among those whom self-righteous fellow-sinners might have branded as hopelessly fallen and inconsistent.

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'Judge not; the workings of his brain

And of his heart thou canst not see;
What looks to thy dim eyes a stain,

In God's pure light may only be

A scar, brought from some well-won field,
Where thou wouldst only faint and yield.

"The look, the air, that frets thy sight,
May be a token, that below

The soul has closed in deadly fight
With some infernal fiery foe,

Whose glance would scorch thy smiling grace,
And cast thee shuddering on thy face!

"The fall thou darest to despise—

May be the slackened angel's hand
Has suffered it, that he may rise
And take a firmer, surer stand;

Or, trusting less to earthly things,

May henceforth learn to use his wings."

ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTOR.

On the afternoon that the travellers were to leave Castle Mordaunt, a more cold and formal farewell even than usual was exchanged between Sir John Dunbar and Lady Elinor, and then D'Arcy drew his sister into the Turret Boudoir.

"Elinor!" said he, deep and low, “when I come back I mean to ask Leslie North to be my wife."

Elinor did not speak or raise her eyes. "Elinor!" and the voice came huskier, "let me have no aristocratic nonsense from you, I shall have enough of trouble with my father." His hand was pressed, but no words would come.

"Elinor if she consents to be your sister, you take her to your heart?"

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Elinor only whispered, "D'Arcy, dearest D'Arcy, I do not think she will. You are too confident."

"Love like mine MUST win love," and the look of fear and pain that had come into his eyes was but for a second; "Elinor Mordaunt, answer my question.'

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Then came a sharp pang of jealousy; she to be nothing, Leslie to be everything! A flash of the old haughty pride, a throb of the old hopes of great things for D'Arcy, then a rush of softer, holier feelings, and she said low and tremulous, but still clear and truthful," If Leslie North becomes my brother's wife, she shall be my cherished and beloved sister."

D'Arcy looked but did not speak his loving and grateful answer. After a pause he said, “I feel so happy to-day! what a beautiful world it is! everything seems so bright with hope, and so strong with new strength."

But Elinor said very sadly, "I don't know why I feel so nervous about your going away to-day," and she did a very unusual thing with her, she burst into tears. But time and trains wait not upon ladies' nerves; a bustle in the passage, an impatient voice, D'Arcy, D'Arcy, you will lose the train," (it was sometimes said mournfully afterwards

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oh, that he had lost it"), and he was off with the light exulting step of health and strength, and joyous, youthful manhood.

CHAPTER XII.

THE RAILWAY.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. -HEB. xii. 11.

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies
But in battalions."-SHAKSPERE.

"The process long, of years,

The discipline of life,

Of outward woes, and secret tears,

Sickness and strife :

The idols taken from thee one by one,

Till thou canst dare to live with ME alone.

"Some gentle souls there are,

Who yield unto my love;

Who ripening fast beneath my care,

I soon remove;

But thou stiff-necked art, and hard to rule,

Thou must stay longer in affliction's school."

WHYTEHEAD.

"Loss, woe, weariness, all pain, each want, each earthly load, Are in the many-linked chain that draws earth up to God."

AIRD.

LORD D'Arcy and his friend were soon on the platform of Woodleigh Mordaunt station. King Charles and his long-tressed cavaliers,