"Some one coming in; I'll look who it is." Peeping through the branches of the shrubs Constance saw a little ragged boy standing outside, and, on drawing nearer, a small thin hand thrust between the bars.

"He is trying to steal our snowdrops!" she exclaimed, and, with noiseless steps, hurried across a corner of the soft grass, appearing suddenly close to | the gate, just in time to see the hand grasp a bunch of fresh buds which happened to grow within reach. "Oh, don't take our pretty flowers!" cried Constance, as the boy, hearing her voice, gave one frightened glance upward, and, starting to his feet, rushed away. But dangers threatened on all sides; for the gardener, who was just returning from his dinner, happened at that moment to turn into the road leading to the gate; nothing remained, therefore, but to run back to where Constance stood-certainly the least formidable of the dangers-with her hand on the latch.

"Miss! miss!" said the terrified boy, in his despair; "indeed, I'll never do it again if you'll let me in to hide behind a bush till that man passes."

Constance peeped out. ""Tis only old John," she said, "but he'd be very angry with you for touching our flowers. I heard him say yesterday he wished he could catch the person who took them; but I'm not sure it would be right for me to let you in."

There was no time to argue the question, for the old gardener's steps came nearer and nearer; he would be within sight of the gate in another moment. Constance's good nature conquered. "Perhaps," thought she, if I help to save him this time he won't come back any more to steal. It would be better than letting him be sent to prison."

While these thoughts passed rapidly through her mind, the boy remained with his eyes fixed entreatingly on her face, until, opening the gate quietly a little way, she allowed him to pass in, at the same time pointing to a thick clump of evergreens, where he had but just taken refuge as the old gardener walked up to the entrance.

“Miss Constance," he said, "some one has been at

How was it possible for the poor boy to escape

now? Walking round and round the garden in the utmost perplexity, Constance almost regretted the step she had taken. At length, pushing her way through the tangled branches at the farthest side of the clump, she saw the little ragged boy crouching under the boughs of a tall Portugal laurel. Just as he was starting up, frightened at the rustling of the leaves, she held out her finger to impose silence, and whispered cautiously, "You must stay where you are for a while, for old John is watching the gate." "Yes, miss, I see him through the bushes, and he's working away. don't think he's a mind to leave that soon."

"No; and I'll have to go in before long, so you must watch your own opportunity. But first tell me, little boy, why you wanted to steal our snowdrops?" Well, I thought there was no one looking." "Oh, but there was."

66

Yes; I didn't see you, though, till you came up close to the gate.”

"I don't mean that; there was some one else too." "Was there?" said the boy, looking amazed. "Yes, one you could not see, but who always watches you; I mean God."

"I've heard that before, but I never much minded. Is it true?" God may see us, but he doesn't care for me or little Cissy-poor Cissy, that's always sick and tired!"

"Oh yes He does, Bert! I'm quite sure He loves you both, though you don't know it yet. Who is Cissy?"

Cissy's my little sister. After mother died, old Marthy took her to live in her room, and she brings her out in the cold and wet, because the child looks so white and thin people are sorry for her, and give plenty of pennies. Marthy's always angry when she's too sick to walk, and says she's not worth her food; then Cissy stays at home alone, and cries." "Do you live with them too?"

"No, I do for myself; but when Marthy's out I often slip in to see Cissy, and bring her anything I Yescan get. 'Twas for her I wanted the flowers.

terday I brought her one or two, the rest I sold in the street for a penny, and bought a cake, but she wasn't hungry, and liked the flowers best."

Well, Bert, I'll give you a good large bunch of nice fresh ones when you 're going away."

"Aye, but when will that be?"

"You can't get out while John watches the gate." "I'm thinking he 'll stay there all day." "Then you must wait till he leaves off work; it grows dark very early this time of the year. But there's the bell; I must go."

It seemed almost cruel to enjoy a comfortable room, and good dinner, while this poor boy was imprisoned in the shrubbery, cold and hungry; but, managing to lay by a slice of bread and some meat, Constance stole out again for a few moments, when unobserved, to bring it to Bert.

The boy devoured the bread greedily, but stored up the meat in his pocket to give as a treat to Cissy. Time passed on, and still old John remained at the gate.

All that afternoon Constance felt restless and uneasy, and could not settle to book or work.

'Why do you sit at the cold window, my dear? " her mother asked; "you are usually fond of the fireside at this hour."

“Oh, mamma, do let me stay longer here," she said; "I like looking out of the window. It's not very dark yet; old John has not left off work. Now, there he goes! and he is locking the gate!" Without a word of explanation, Constance rushed from the room, and ran down the garden walk.

"John, John!" she cried, "oh, come back! "What is the matter, miss?" asked the old man, returning a few steps along the path.

Panting with excitement, Constance gasped out, "Have you really locked up the garden ?"

'Yes, sure enough, and good reason too, when the flowers are stolen every morning."

"THE QUIVER" BIBLE CLASS. 131. Quote a verse in which three forms of friendship are mentioned.

132. Where is it stated that David was a man after God's own heart?

133. What four witnesses are mentioned by Our Blessed Lord as testifying to the truth of His mission ?

134. In what book of the New Testament is the "Song of Moses" referred to?

135. The sentence of God upon fallen man was, "In the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat bread." Where in the New Testament is the same law laid down?

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON PAGE 384. 120. At the feast of Tabernacles (John vii. 8). 121. Joab was slain although he was by the altar (1 Kings ii. 28-34); Athaliah the queen was taken out of the temple, and slain (2 Kings xi. 15, 16). 122. The tribe of Simeon, which numbered fifty

123. That of Achan (Joshua vii. 18). Jonathan son of Saul (1 Sam. xiv. 40-42), and Jonah the prophet (Jonah i. 7).

124. John iv. 42.

1004 17 3 £1378 17 10

If gold or honours dull the sight,

The heart 'neath world-mists lies, Kind nature thrills the soul with light, And purges darkling eyes, With sacramental beauty fills

The earth; skies, flowrets, tell

A wondrous love-tale; whoso wills
May read their parable.

True lover of the country, I

Watch, thankful each fresh spring, The birds from stranger climes that fly— Glad song or flashing wing

The hedgehog quit his leafy bed,

The painted flies that gleam
Athwart the meads the thorn-snows shed
By zephyrs o'er the stream.

Each spring mid crocus-knots I muse,
And note each golden day

The happy creatures, the bright views
Of woods and uplands gay;

The softened lights and shadows, where

Eve's sunlit clouds bestow

A tender charm, a subtle care,
Till all accordant glow.

And oft with lissome rod I stray

Along the stream for miles,

While skilful wrist the silv'ry prey

With tinsel fly beguiles;

Each simple sight fresh beauty wins

The rats upon the weeds,

The children fishing with bent pins,

The lambs, the breeze-borne seeds.
Each spring I joy, as laughing green
With glory clothes the sprays,
As baby-cones on firs are seen,
And blooms by forest ways,
All swell one universal song

Of praise-glad larks above,
And murm'rous bees, and all the throng,
Own one Creator's love.

IN

CHAPTER LII.

ENGLAND AGAIN.

HEN Helen was well enough to take the warm interest of old in the affairs of others, cheerful Mrs. Rayne had plenty to tell. Her sister had been in great trouble, having lost one of her beautiful children through the negligence of the nurse, in whose management she had so implicitly confided. The reproaches uttered by Mr. Veriston in the first transports of his grief, and her own remorseful sense of neglected responsibilities, struck home to her naturally warm heart. To her credit be it said that the impression was a lasting one; her frivolous pursuits were now gradually laid aside, to enable her to devote herself to her domestic duties; and, without losing her vivacity, she was developing into an excellent wife and mother.

Mrs. Irby's venture was prospering. The number of her pupils had rapidly increased; and as her excellent management and attention to their health of body as well as their studies became more widely known, mothers were only too glad to place their children under her care. Ida, the bright energetic Ida, infused spirit into the ménage, and even Miss Bent had improved wonderfully since she had been raised to the post of Mrs. Irby's chief adviser and assistant.

her own work, which she was merely relinquishing for a time in order to nurse Helen. She could more easily do this, because the band of helpers had increased, and she no longer laboured in the midst of her crowded district comparatively unaided.

When Helen was well enough to travel she returned to England with Mrs. Rayne, intending to take up her abode for a time with the Irbys. By Colonel Quatermaine's will she was so amply provided for that the executors he had appointed were inviting her to enter society, in which, as a comparatively wealthy heiress, she would have been eagerly welcomed. But pleading her mourning as an excuse for declining all invitations, she adhered to her original plan. When she could overcome the depressing sense of loneliness that still clung to her, she would endeavour to find some way of spending a busy, useful life.

"I cannot let you go to Mrs. Irby till I have fulfilled my husband's injunctions," said Mrs. Rayne, when they were on their homeward route. "He is so anxious to see his old favourite, that I have promised for you that your first few days in England shall be spent under our roof."

It would have sounded ungrateful to object to anything proposed by such generous and disinterested friends as the Raynes had proved themselves, and Helen cheerfully consented to the arrangement.