before; and they appeared addressed to her. And so they were, for who could need them more than she did? Nor did she try to evade or to forget their application. Whatever were Gertrude's feelings, that of closing her eyes to the truth was not one of them. As a man beholds his natural face in a glass, she saw through the medium of God's enlightening Word, the features of her own character; and painful and self-reproachful as the sight was, she did not shrink from it—she did not deny it; for how could the evil be remedied if its existence were ignored? Gertrude had hitherto lived almost, if not exclusively, for herself, but she had done so unconsciously. No one had told her how wrong such a mode of life was, and she had become so habituated to it, that she had never herself discovered its injurious tendency. It was not until she studied her prescription that she found out her disease.

She sat for a long time deep in thought, scrutinizing the past, and planning for the future. She loved her Saviour, and wished to tread in his steps; and now when she perceived how selfdenying and self-forgetting was the path they indicated, she resolved, not in her own strength, but in his, to enter and pursue it. She would neither be a "blot " nor a "blank" in his creation. She would fill up faithfully the position which He had assigned her; she would do the work which He had given her to do. And what was the work? Gertrude felt, what unhappily some young Christians have not felt, that home was her first and most natural sphere of action; and yet she could hardly tell what there was in that home to claim and engage her newly excited energies. I dare say you could have told her, dear reader, but you must remember Gertrude's inexperience in these matters. However, Gertrude did not want a teacher, for she recollected that promise, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him," James i. 5; and she went in simple faith to Him, and asked Him to instruct her in the way she should go ; to guide her with his eye; to show her what to do, and how to do it. Ah, we should often be preserved from mistakes if we sought for direction from our Heavenly Counsellor.

Gertrude folded up Dr. Etherington's prescription and put it in her desk, with a sigh it is true, yet with a steadiness of purpose which dispelled all enervating gloom. Then she looked at her watch; it was just the hour when she usually walked out with her aunt. She was glad of it, not that she was very partial to out-of door exercise, but she really wanted some diversion of thought, and Mrs. Mordaunt's good-natured gossip would be sure to furnish that; besides, Gertrude had a few little purchases to make towards a birthday gift for a friend; so she

hastened to get ready, aud then went down stairs. But her aunt was unable to accompany her. One of the violent sick

headaches, to which she was subject, had come on, and she was obliged to lie perfectly still on the sofa. Gertrude asked if she could do any thing for her.

"No, dear, thank you, I want nothing but patience," said her aunt, trying to speak as cheerfully as she could; "I shall be better, I hope, in a few hours. I wouldn't mind it so much, only for your poor uncle's sake. I have not been able to read to him this morning, and he was sadly disappointed, for he counts so always upon hearing the news; but I could not really hold my head up."

Gertrude was silent; she was remarking the difference between her aunt and herself. Her aunt thought of another when Gertrude would have thought of herself. Her aunt studied her uncle's comfort, when Gertrude would have been only intent upon her own. And she was silent too, because a suggestion had just come into her mind which she was unwilling to follow, and yet dared not put aside. Should she offer, instead of going out, to sit with her uncle and read to him? Something whispered to her that she ought to do so; but then, if she did, she must give up for that day the wools for her ottoman; moreover, if there was one thing which she particularly disliked, it was reading, especially reading a newspaper aloud. She hesitated and hesitated-which would conquer, self or duty? It was the turning point in this period of Gertrude's history. If she refused now to heed the voice of conscience, it would probably plead in vain hereafter; if she refused to work to-day, was it likely that she would begin to-morrow?

Gertrude did not refuse. She settled that she would begin at once. The opportunity seemed to have arisen for the purpose of testing her sincerity. She knew she was sincere, and she acted accordingly. Half opening the door, she said, "Do you think, dear aunt, that uncle would be satisfied if I were to read to him ? "

"Satisfied! oh yes, Gertrude, you are such a much better reader than I am. He would be pleased! But, my love, your walk, I cannot have you deprive yourself of that."

"Oh_never mind my walk, aunt," said Gertrude, quickly, only I am afraid I shall prove but a poor substitute for you.'

And then she softly closed the door, and, without a moment's delay for fear her courage should fail, went to her uncle. He was sitting in an easy chair, propped up with pillows, and looked very restless and very fretful. Gertrude's heart sank within her, but, determined not to be defeated, she put on her

best looks, and said in her pleasantest tone, "Would you like me to read the paper to you, uncle? Aunt's headache is worse, and she thought I might manage instead of her for once."

The poor invalid brightened up directly. "Thank you, Gertrude," he said, "if you would be so kind, and if you think it would not be too much for you, I should be very much obliged to you, for I do so want to hear Lord A's speech. But I don't like to trouble you, my dear, indeed, I don't."

Gertrude did not answer as the draper's assistants usually do, "Oh, it is no trouble; " for she felt that it was very troublesome to wade through parliamentary speeches, but she replied cheerfully, "Don't mention that, dear uncle; I shall be so glad if I can amuse you for a little while."

Gertrude received her directions, and then commenced her reading. Her correct accent and nicely modulated voice fell soothingly on her uncle's ear, and he listened with pleased attention till she had finished. His wife always did her best, but she was certainly not a good reader. Her enunciation was not distinct, and she went on at such a rapid rate that it was difficult sometimes to follow and understand her; but it was quite a treat to hear Gertrude read. So, at least, her uncle thought, and so he said; and his gratification amply repaid Gertrude for the trouble which she had taken, and the self-denial which she had exercised. Don't smile, dear reader, and imagine that I am attaching undue importance to so trifling an act of kindness: there is something important in the first effort, however simple it may be, which any one makes to give up selfishness and to overcome indolence.

And when Gertrude laid aside the paper, she sat chatting for some time to her uncle, and her conversation helped to beguile his weary hours, and to put him into a good humour. Gertrude wished she could have spoken to him about better things than the doings of statesmen, but she was timid, and hardly knew how to begin; besides, she thought it was perhaps wiser to win his confidence first by her kind attentions and care for his comfort.

With a lightened heart Gertrude at length left him, promising to look in again soon if her aunt continued unwell. She wondered at the happy glow which had come over her feelingscome, too, from sitting in that sick room which she had always said was so depressing. No, Gertrude, it was not from merely sitting there, it was from trying to be useful there. It is astonishing what a healthful influence that has upon the mind.

Her aunt was not any better, nor did she become so as the afternoon wore away. And she fidgetted herself, poorly as she

was, with the anticipation of George's return. "What a disappointment for him, poor boy, to come home and find his mother in bed, instead of getting his tea ready for him! He would be so dull!" And she was afraid lest he should not have

just what he fancied. Mary was a very good girl, but then she was a new comer, and unused to his ways. If she could but get up herself; but that was an impossibility, and she was forced to acknowledge it.

"Don't fret yourself about George, aunt," said Gertrude; "I know exactly what he wants and what he likes, and I will take care that he is not neglected. And he will be so terribly hungry when he comes in-he always is, you know-that if he has plenty of good things to eat, he won't miss you so much at first; and perhaps you will be able to come down after tea." Gertrude spoke more bravely than she felt, for the idea of having to entertain and attend to Master George herself, was anything but delightful; but she had devoted the day to work, and she would not be discouraged when it came.

Her aunt was relieved by her assurances. I don't know that she estimated Gertrude's abilities in that department very highly, but she fancied she would manage better than a servant; and she presently fell into a quiet, refreshing sleep, from which she did not awake until after her son's arrival.

Gertrude watched at the window for his approach, for she remembered the tremendous knock and ring with which he always announced himself at the door, and she did not wish her aunt to be disturbed; so, when she saw him coming, she stepped quickly into the passage, and opened the door.

"Well Gertie, how are you?" he exclaimed, in his off-hand boisterous way, "but where's mamma?"

Gertrude explained to him the reason of his mother's absence, and told him that his father was out for a drive. His merry face clouded over for a moment, but when he saw the bubbling tea-urn, and the cold ham and chicken, and the toast and the cake, and the preserves with which the table was spread, and the easy chair and the slippers put ready for him, his gloom vanished as quickly as it came, and he sat down evidently prepared to make a hearty meal. Gertrude exerted herself to do the hospi talities of the tea-table, and to amuse her schoolboy cousin. Perhaps a little feeling of pride that her aunt might hear how well she had succeeded, stimulated her; but she was also really desirous to make George comfortable. And he did not seem so rough and unpolished as usual. Perhaps her kindly influence softened him; or, perhaps, the trouble which she had taken on his behalf gave him-it generally does so-a greater interest in her eyes, and disposed her to look more favourably upon him

However that may be, they got on amazingly well together. George told her some of the marvellous escapes and heroic ad· ventures of the last half-year, to which Gertrude listened with a praiseworthy complacency, which would have astonished her aunt had she been there.

When Mrs. Mordaunt awoke she was much better; indeed, her wearisome headache had nearly, if not quite, departed, and George ran up directly to see her, and to receive her welcome home. "Why, mother," he said, after a few minutes of personal questions and answers had passed, "what is the matter with Gertrude?"

"The matter with Gertrude, my dear? nothing, I believe; she has been unusually well to-day, I think; why, she read aloud to your father for more than an hour this morning."

George lifted up his eyes and hands. My patience!" he exclaimed a meaningless phrase, seeing that his patience was not yet in existence, which he used on all occasions of surprise"what will happen next, I wonder! However, I am very glad of the change; I only hope it will last; she has been uncommonly agreeable all tea time."

Bad

The change did last, as Master George found, to his great satisfaction, those holidays. Not that it was perfect and uninterrupted, dear reader; no, no such is sometimes the representation of story-books, but not the fact of real life. habits are not got rid of, nor good ones adopted, without many struggles and some failures; and Gertrude too often found that she still preferred self to others, and that she was idle when she ought to have been diligent. Nevertheless, the progress of right principle was increasingly manifest day by day; and when George returned to school after the vacation, he bore with him a very different opinion of "Cousin Gertie," to that which he had previously entertained. She had worked hard during those five or six weeks to amuse and interest and gain an influence over him; and she was as much surprised at her success as her cousin was at her obliging behaviour, and earnest attempts to please him. George was a blunt self-willed boy, but there was an open avenue to his affections, which was free to all who were willing to enter, and Gertrude found that by making use of this, she secured a great deal of control over him, which she wisely turned to the best of purposes. He went twice on the Sunday with her to church on purpose to please her, read one or two serious books-they were, of course, attractive ones-which she gave him; and even listened to her when she tried to win him into the ways of pleasantness and the paths of peace, without ridicule; nay, with ill-concealed emotion. Was not all this worth a little daily self-denial—a little daily, earnest effort?