the library door and in the fulness of her heart forgetful of the decorum of knocking she entered and mr sitting with his little girl on his knee mary i am glad to � ee thee � aid the child i cannot get a word from father he is just as if he was asleep only his eyes are wide open mary regardless of the child s announced the news she bad just heard mr coldly replied that he knew it already and mary left the room a little hurt that he had not condescended to tell her and wondering what made him so indifferent and then wondering whether it was indifference but as she could not relieve her mind she resolved to go immediately to jane with whom the habits of their early lives and her continued kindness had given and established the right of free intercourse she found jane alone and not looking as happy as she expected you have come to give me joy mary she said smiling mournfully as she extended her hand to her friend yes replied mary i came with that intention and you look as if joy was yet to be given well she continued after a pause i thought you and mr were different front every body else in the world but now you puzzle me more than ever i expected to see your aunt look � that s natural to her when q a n� w i tale any good any one else and who every body knows has been setting her cap every way for ever since she was old enough to think of a husband she has a right to have her eyes as red as a s but there is mr looking as sorrowful as if he had seen some great trouble and could not relieve it and y oil my dear child i have seen you pass through many a dark passage of your life with a happier face than you wear now when u are going to have the pride of the county for your husband to be mistress of the beautiful house on the hill and have every thing heart can desire jane made no explanation nor reply and after a few moments consideration mary to be sure i could wish was more like mr but then he is six or eight years younger than mr and in that time with your you may make him a good deal like mr mr was mary s beau ideal of a man that is if your are blessed it is true i always thought you would not marry any man that was not religious not but what tis au for even professors do it but then jane you are more particular and consistent than a great many professors and i know you think there is nothing hearts together like religion � that bead where there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage poor jane had listened to mary s and with considerable calmness but now she laid her head in her friend s lap and gave vent to the feel a new england ta e she had been all day arguing down by a flood of tears ah my dear jane is it there the shoe i sorry te find you have thought of it though if the candle of the lord is lighted np in the heart we ought to look at every thing by that light but now you have decided turn to bright side i know much about mr he is called a young man and who knows what he may become when he sees how good and how beautiful it is to have the whole heart and life ordered and governed by the christian rule i often think to myself jane that your life and mr s too are better than preach ing don t take on so my child she continued soothingly you have scripture for you for the bible says the believing wife may the husband and must mean that her counsel and example shall win him back to the right w and persuade him to walk in the paths of r cheer up my child there is a good before you and i feel as if you had many happy days to come yet those that sow in tears shall reap with joy it is a load off my mind at any rate that you are away from your aunt s and under good mrs s roof i stopped at your aunt s on my way here and she raised a hue and cry about your leaving her house suddenly she said your grand fortune had turned your head she was not disappointed she had never expected any gratitude from you but twas not for worldly hire she did her duty poor poor soul i would not judge her i a new england tale i do believe she has the hope that will perish i just took no notice of her and came as i was passing through the kitchen says io ine mrs may look out for other for now miss jane the only righteous one is gone out from us i sha nt stay to hear nothing but and and prayers but says i you don t object to the prayers yes says she i don t like lip prayers � it is nothing but a mockery has too much reason replied jane but now mary you must not think from what you have seen that i am not happy for i have reason to be grateful and i ought to be very very happy ought j thought mary she may be contented and resigned and even cheerful because she ought � but happiness is not duty work however she had discretion enough to suppress her homely and patting jane s head affectionately she replied yes my child and if you wish it i will set these tears 