gloom of her mind, than the deeper and perhaps more elevated views of her son. Gertrude's society became absolutely necessary to her aunt ; while Mrs. Aberley perceived, that, though she did not exactly say so, her sister regarded her as one who, like herself, knew little of that religion which prepares and emboldens the soul to meet its God. This, joined to letters she received from Edward, confirming all that Gertrude had told her respecting him, led Mrs. Aberley to begin, with very deep interest, that examination of Scripture she had proposed. During her sister's illness she went to no parties, and gave none: and much of the time which was not spent with her interesting young family, was devoted to the study of the Bible, and in prayer to God for assistance to understand it. The truth gradually dawned on her mind, and became more and more clear as she proceeded in her search. She perceived that her chief errors had arisen from ignorance of those truths so strongly expressed in Scripture;-the natural alienation of the affections from God; and the method God had appointed to do away that alienation, and reconcile the heart to himself. Ignorant of those truths, she had been labouring, with this alienated heart, to fulfil her task of duties, in the hope, perhaps undefined, of propitiating that Being whom she supposed she loved, not because, as with other objects of love, it was her delight

to seek His presence, and her chief joy to have communion with him; but because loving God was one of those many things which every person knew to be right, and one of those conditions, on the fulfilment of which she hoped to be entitled to heaven. She now perceived that she did not love God in the Scripture sense, and that, in reality, she knew not Christ-in short, that her religion and that of the New Testament were totally different. There, Christ was all; in her religion, Christ was distant and unknown. There, he was the only way to the Father; the Mediator between God and man; the propitiation for sin; the High Priest in heaven, who continually interceded for his people; the Advocate with the Father; he who made reconciliation between the soul and God; he, whom true believers loved with joy unspeakable, with such love as led them to long for death, that they might depart and be with Him. Of such faith in Christ, or love to Him, Mrs. Aberley acknowledged to her own mind she knew nothing; and, consequently, that she was ignorant of, and not reconciled to that God who can only be approached through Christ. These were painful and humbling convictions; but Mrs. Aberley was really searching for truth, and she persevered the more earnestly in her search, on discovering that she had, while supposing herself acquainted with the Scriptures, been almost ignorant of

them. She now also frequently met with Mr. Percy in her sister's sick-room. Charles Ashton had prevailed on his mother to see Mr. Percy, in the hope that he might lead her mind to brighter views. But a death-bed is not often the time when instruction can be received. Mrs. Ashton was unable at times, from illness, to attend to Mr. Percy; and, indeed, was always so weak and languid, that his visits flurried and discomposed her, even when most anxious to see him; and she often derived more benefit from what he had said, when repeated to her afterwards by Gertrude, than from his personal instructions. Mrs. Aberley, however, listened with earnest attention, and joined in his prayers. She also attended his church with Mrs. Ashton's young family, and with Anna; and gradually the way of peace with God, declared in the Gospel, opened on her mind with clearness and conviction. She thankfully and joyfully acquiesced in the plan of salvation made known there, as a manifestation of the wisdom and love of God, and as entirely suited to the wants of her soul; and she at least wished to receive Christ as her all, and to resign herself wholly to the guidance of his word and Spirit.

Anna, during this period of her aunt's last illness, was at times very miserable. Ignorant on the subject of religion, and not of a character to examine any subject with calm attention; yet sensi

ble that she had resisted the admonitions of her own conscience, the kind expostulations of Gertrude, and the stronger and more alarming remarks of her cousin,-she felt a consciousness of guilt in the sight of God, which led her only to think of Him as an object to be dreaded. Circumstances added to this uneasiness. The mournful gloom that was cast over the house of her aunt, that deep shadow which precedes the approach of death; Gertrude's anxious seriousness of manner, when, for short intervals, she left her aunt's room to converse with her; Mrs. Aberley's thoughtfulness and disrelish for any conversation but that of the gravest kind, all tended to increase Anna's uneasiness. Her former pursuits appeared to her, now, to have been madness and folly. Death, eternity, judgment, were ever in her thoughts; and, with her usual imprudence, she betrayed to every one the dark and unhappy state of her feelings, while, at the same time, she laboured to satisfy her conscience by the most scrupulous exactness in fulfilling what she considered religious duties, and in reproving the neglect of them in others.

At last the hour so much dreaded by poor Mrs. Ashton arrived, and her timid spirit was called to enter its everlasting state of existence.

When Mrs. Aberley had seen every duty of sisterly affection performed, and the orphan family restored to some degree of comfort, she pre

pared to join her son in Scotland. She and his sister had received many letters from him, each succeeding one expressing the sentiments of a mind increasing in religious and happy feeling. The expectation of joining him was therefore the more pleasing to Mrs. Aberley and his sisters, after the late sad and painful scenes they had witnessed.

In the following pages are narrated some conversations and events which took place at Arnavoir, commencing on the evening the ladies arrived there.