"On the contrary," replied Jane, " I am much interested in your account of them.” "I then began to perceive the reason of our Saviour's coming into the world," continued Fanny, "to atone for our sins by his death, and to rêconcile us to God. I found from the scriptures that we were to trust entirely to him for salvation, that all who would be saved must go to him, and that he had said, 'Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.' I found that I could do nothing of myself, but that Christ had promised his Holy Spirit to his followers, to guide, to teach, and to sanctify them, and that his only requirement béfore he gave it was, ‘Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' I think it is my sincere desire to give myself to the service of God, and I try to pray for his Holy Spirit that I may be enabled to do so. Henry very often writes to me, and he tells me if I lay aside all hopes which are founded upon my own merits, and put my whole trust in Christ, he will listen to my prayers, and have mercy upon me. Does not the Bible say the same, Mrs. Westbury ?" " It does, indeed," replied Jane, the tears of pleasure glistening in her eyes, "but why did you not tell me this before ?" ana“ It so seldom have an opportunity of talking to you except when my mother or Catherine are pre sent," answered Fanny, and they would only ridicule me. Besides I did not think you would feel any interest in the information; and I am afraid, now, Miss Landor will think I am very rude, (to say the least) in talking so much of myself, but I do not know what it is," continued she, half smiling, and colouring as she spoke, “though there certainly is something, in you both, that [makes me feel so much at home with you." Leslie and Mr. Westbury had promised to meet them on their return, and at this moment they were seen at the little gate, which was the only entrance into the church-yard, from the fields leading to Elmwood. On the opposite side, was another opening into a meadow, which with those beyond it, was usually called the field-road to H—; and there were few visitors either to or from Elmwood, that did not prefer sauntering through the green fields, and along their grassy walks, enjoying the delightful fragrance of the hedges, composed as they chiefly were of trees of wild roses, while the bank beneath was sprinkled with the blue-bell, the forget-me-not, and the daisy; there were few who did not prefer such a stroll as this to the high-road, where every vehicle that passed, almost blinded them, for a time, with the dust which it raised. Mrs. Westbury and her young companions had staid so long in the church-yard, that it was thought advisable to defer their intended visit to the garden until another day; for the evening was closing in, and they were afraid that the health of the invalid might suffer if she were exposed to the chilling damps of the night air, they therefore returned to Elmwood immediately after the arrival of Mr. Westbury and Leslie. During the short time she had been at Elmwood, Fanny had appeared quite well, and both Emily and herself entertained very sanguine hopes of her speedy recovery. "The delightful air of Kent, the garden of England,'" would Emily sometimes say, "and the sweet walks which are so particularly numerous here, must tend very much to restore health, and I do not doubt that long before my return to London, I shall have the pleasure of congratulating you on your complete recovery. But while Fanny echoed this opinion, Mrs. Westbury felt a melancholy fear that Emily's prognostications would never be verified. Mrs. Gordon had privately communicated to her the opinion of Mr. Russel, Fanny's medical attendant, had given, that she was in the first stage of consumption; and Mrs. Westbury gazed upon her light and fragile form, and heard her short and frequent cough, with feelings of the most sorrowful anxiety, though she still indulged a secret hope that all might yet be well. But, whatever might be the will of her heavenly Father concerning this dear child, Mrs. Westbury had now the sweet consolation of believing that, young as she was, she was prepared to meet her God," and that death-if death should come, would not be to her "the king of terrors," but a welcome conductor to the regions of light. CHAPTER III. Though life's valley be a vale of tears, The language of the land she seeks inspires! THE evening before Fanny returned to H, was so wet as to prevent the inhabitants of Elmwood from taking their usual walk, and therefore immediately after tea, they seated themselves in the library, which, owing to the extensive prospect from the windows, was their favourite room; and while Jane, Emily, and Fanny occupied themselves at the needle, Mr. Westbury and Leslie alternately read aloud to them. When it became too dark for them to be employed in this manner, the reading and work were discontinued, and they entered into conversation. The book to which they had just been listening was the subject of their remarks for a short time, until Fanny, who had been unusually silent, exclaimed, "I really think this has been one of the happiest weeks I ever spent!" D "I am glad your visit to Elmwood has been as pleasant to you, as your society to us ;" answered Mr. Westbury, "but still, I hope your happiness has not been so much derived from the objects around you, as from the inward peace and contentment of your own heart; and if this has been the case, you will continue to be happy, even though 'amidst the sundry and manifold changes of this world,' it should be your lot to pass many of your days far from Elmwood, or from H——, and distant from the friends of your youth." “Yes,” said Mr. Leslie, "if, as I trust, the love of Christ is the ruling principle of Miss Gordon's heart, she will be resigned and happy under every dispensation of Providence. To know him, experimentally, as a Saviour, and to feel that God is our reconciled Father through him, is sufficient cause of joy to balance all the sorrows we shall meet with in the world. In this consists true happiness-in this only consists real peace." "Christ is indeed the way to happiness," returned Mr. Westbury, "but how few seek it in him! All profess to be engaged in the search after peace, and yet how many fall short of its attainment! How many rest satisfied with the vain and fleeting thing which worldly men call pleasure, and for the fancied enjoyment of a few short years, give up an eternity of inconceivable felicity, and that, too, for misery so awful,” qala "Few, indeed," observed Leslie," are there who |