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"Pardon my intrusion, Mr Stewart I expected to find Mada with an invalid sister, and requested e of her classes, in addition to my own If I can render you any assistance, Miss Hamilton, I am at your service"

"Thank you, I am in need of no assistance, and merely wished to say to Mada heard fro boat"

"I will inform her of your intended departure as early as possible"

"You will oblige o

"Miss Hamilton, may I ask you if your cousin accompanies you?"

"She does," was the laconic answer, and slowly she retraced her steps, and stood at her own door The cheeks had become colorless, and the delicate lips writhed with pain She paused a moment, then entered

"Did you see her, Florry?"

"No, she is absent, but I left word for her"

Her tone was hard, dry, as though she had been striving long for soth was scarce able to grasp It was the echo of a fearful struggle that had raged in her proud boso resistance Mary gazed sadly on her cousin, who stood hty features seemed chiseled in marble, so cold, stony was the expression

"Dear Florry! you look harassed and weary already Why, ill you overtask your strength, merely to be called a disciple of Zeno? Surely you cannot seriously desire so insignificant an honor, if it lory in crushing long-cherished hopes--nay, when your heart is yearning toward soht particular' path, to turn without one syret, and calmly tread one just the opposite! Tellin this Stoical command?"

The cold, vacant look had passed away; her dark eyes glealittered as with anticipated triumph

"Florry, I do not understand you exactly; but I do know that command of the heart is impossible, from the source whence you draw It may seem perfect control now, but it will fail you in the dark hour of your need, if ry if I say 'you have forsaken the fountain of living water, and hewn out for yourself broken cisterns, which hold no water' Oh! Florry, before you take another step, return to Him, 'who has a balm for every wound'"