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CHAPTER VII.

A SUNSET.

"Is that auld age that's toiling at the pin ?
I trow it is, then haste to let him in.
Ye're kindly welcome, friend, nay, dinna fear
To show yoursel', ye'll cause nae trouble here."
MRS. HAMILTON.

"Is winter hideous in a garb like this ?"

CowPER.

HELEN was sitting on a stile waiting for her cousin.

"Well, Effie, we shall have a pleasant walk; and I am so glad to introduce you, at last, to my favourites, the Misses Marsh."

"I shall like the walk well enough, Helen, but I know I shan't care for the visit. I don't like old people, you know."

"Well, dear, I think it is time you learnt

to like them, and to prove for yourself, by actual demonstration, that there are some people too good to be shot, though they are past fifty."

"Well, we shall see. I say, Helen, wasn't I good to-day when Aunt Herbert contradicted me so about the British Museum? And I was right all the time; for I have been there very lately, and seen the things I spoke of."

"Yes, dear, very good; it was not lost upon me."

"You can't think how I tried, nor what it cost me. I nearly bit my lip through. Do you think Aunt Herbert's temper will ever get any better, Helen?

"No, I am afraid not."

"Then what in the world are you and I to do?"

"Just bear it, my dear, to be sure, and think no more about it."

"Do you think she knows how disagreeable she is ?"

"Oh no, certainly not; people never know

themselves. You and I don't see ourselves as other people see us; and, do you know, I think we had much better not talk about my aunt, it is a most unprofitable subject, and always harmful to look upon the faults of others."

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'Well, just let me say one thing more, and then you shall talk of what you will. When you have had a disappointment, Helen (and I have had many lately), does it not worry you very much to be told by Aunt Herbert that it is a matter of no consequence, and she wonders you can be so foolish as to care ?"

"Yes, dear, I think it is very trying."

"You know, the smallest amount of sympathy enables you to get over a disappointment, at least it does me; but to have the thing ignored, and, in addition to the pain you are enduring, to be made to look down upon yourself as something weak-minded-don't you think this is very irritating?"

"Indeed I do. But what disappointment have you had to-day?"

"Only a little one, and I meant to bear it

without telling you; but it was a foolish deter mination, for I am full of wrong feelings, and I shall never get rid of them without your help. My aunt has changed her mind about the flower-show, and I am not to go."

"Why?"

"I don't know, she would not tell me her reason; and I don't think she has any."

"Well, Effie, I won't say it is a trifle, because I know you have set your mind upon it, and, therefore, to you, dear, it is a large evil, and requires a large effort to meet it. But if you do meet it in the right spirit, you will never regret the loss of the day's pleasure. You will gain more than you lose."

"Now just tell me, Helen, how you meet this kind of thing. I don't mean outwardly, because I hope I am learning to keep my tongue in better check; but my heart goes on fuming and fretting, and for a whole day, perhaps, the thought of my aunt's face brings nothing but unholy, unkind feelings. How do you prevent it ?”

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