A SISTER'S LOVE. 45 "You remind me," she said with a little smile which came and went instantly, "of some one who said he would give to a certain charity if no one asked him to give. If any one did, he should probably knock the man down and give nothing." "And the key to this fable ?"—said Thornton. "It is hardly needed. You know the truth-you appreciate it-there is not one part of your character but sides, in its own secret persuasions, with right against wrong. And yet when I, or public opinion, or especially your own conscience, says, 'This is the way-walk ye in it,'-that moment you say, 'Nay, but after the desires of my own heart will I walk." " She paused a few moments, and then went on. "Thornton, I came down to ask one thing of you." "You had better not,” he said, but more gently than before," according to your statement of the case I shall not grant it. But let me hear—perhaps I am not in a perverse mood at present." "You must not be displeased with me-I wanted to ask, to entreat, that you will never again in such circumstances let Hulda know where you have been or what you have been doing. Let her keep all her love and respect for you-all that childish faith and veneration for the Lord's day and his commands, which you sometimes please to call superstition. O Thornton! do not try to ruin more than one of our mother's children!" Her arms were about his neck, and her face laid against his for a moment, and then she was gone! and Thornton sat alone with his own reflections until the bright wood fire had become but a heap of white ashes, and Trinity Church had told off more than one of the small hours. He roused himself then, and stood up,-that same sweet presence about him yet, his mother's picture before him, and still sounding in his ears the words he had heard repeated to Hulda in the afternoon. He felt their power even as some persons can appreciate a fine melody while yet they know not one note of music. He took his light and went thoughtfully up-stairs, but Rosalie's door arrested him, he opened it softly and went in. The moon shone in brilliantly, but failed to awaken the quiet sleepers. Both in most quiet rest,-yet Thornton saw and felt a difference. Hulda, with her arm across her sister's neck, was in the very luxuriance of sleep,there were none of night's own visions, there was no lingering one of the day, to disturb her with its influence, -her little train of thought was noiseless as a train could be, and apparently glided through fairy-land. Her sister's slumber was not so deep; and though undisturbed, though the lines of the face were more absolutely quiet than Hulda's-the mouth had not relaxed its gravity, nor were the eyelashes dry. Thornton went to bed strangely dissatisfied with himself. CHAPTER VIII. Wouldst thou go forth to bless be sure of thine own ground, DESPITE the night's fair promise, the morning rose upon bad weather; but in the moral atmosphere the change had been the other way, and everything looked brighter. Though indeed, according to one fancy, the changes were much alike, and 66 -the sulphurous rifts of passion and woe Lay deep 'neath a silence pure and smooth, Like burnt-out craters healed with snow.' "I am so glad it snows!" exclaimed Hulda, dancing into the breakfast room. "You know you said you would give me a sleigh-ride, Thornton, as soon as I was well enough, and we had some more She stopped short-the evening before suddenly in her thoughts. 66 'As soon as we had some more what ?" said her brother, looking off the paper. "Rain ?" "I was going to say snow," said Hulda in a low voice. "That is a tremendous word, certainly, it is not surprising that you were afraid to speak it. See here, Hulda-I don't want two guardians, and I think on the whole I prefer Rosalie to your little ladyship,-so do you. never take it upon you to give me advice. I am not gifted with the Moon's patience, unfortunately." "The Moon's patience!" said Hulda. "I never heard of that before." 66 'Why you know," said Thornton, "when a little dog once undertook to bark at the Moon, the Moon kept on shining." "I don't think you are like the Moon," said Hulda laughing, but eyeing him a little askance,-"not a bit." "Never mind-in future you must deliver your opinions of me and my conduct to Rosalie, and she may repeat what of them she likes. Where is she this morning ?" She was at his side, even as he spoke; with a face so fair, so shadowless, except for a little anxious feeling when she first looked at him-a half glance of inquiry, as it were -that Thornton was too touched to speak; and taking both her hands, he kissed her first on one cheek and then on the other, wishing from his heart that he had ever done more to fill the vacant place of which that black dress spoke. Such a purpose had often been formed, but when it came to the point there was always some hindrance. He had not learned yet how hard it is to obey the second great command while disregarding the first. "Then do you think you will give me a sleigh-ride, Thornton ?" said Hulda, emboldened by something in his face to press her request. "Half a dozen, if there is snow enough." 66 Oh, that is very good of you!" said Hulda, "because Alie don't like to go alone. I guess there'll be snow enough—I mean I think there will,-I saw one baker's sleigh go by." "Which proves nothing concerning my runners," said Thornton, as he seated himself at the breakfast table. "Bakers have a facility of enjoyment which belongs to few other people." "Have they?" said Hulda. "But here comes another sleigh-I hear the bells." "And a remarkably slow tinkle they make," said Thornton,-"I'll wager something that's a coal man. It's a singular fact that everybody is out of fuel as soon as a storm comes." 66 Yes, it is a charcoal man," said Hulda-" all white and black. And here comes somebody else." 66 Somebody else had better come here," said her sister, or more than breakfast will get cold." "I'll come-" said the child, getting down with some reluctance from the chair where she had been kneeling, and taking a last peep out of the window,-" but it looks so nice out, and the people look so funny,-just let me see what this one sleigh is-oh, such a queer one! like a little old coach without any wheels. And it's stopping at our door!-O Alie, I do believe it's Miss Bettie Morsel!" And the next act being like to come off within doors, Hulda came to her breakfast. The queer sleigh, which was in truth but a coach-body on runners, drew up at the door as she had said. A most literal drawing-up-the driver tugging at his horse till both were slanted back at no inconsiderable angle. Then the driver got down and clapped his hands once or twice, and the horse shook his head to make sure he was all right again, a fact attested by a miserable little bell that hung about him-somewhere. And the coach-body door being at length opened, a little dark figure darted out through the white medium and up the steps. But her ring was by no means in accordance with so fierce a beginning. It was a kind of gentle intimation that if it was all the same to everybody, she would like to come in -a mere suggestion that perhaps there might be somebody outside in the snow,-a ring which a thorough-bred waiter of the present day would go to sleep over, and dream of visitors. But Martha Jumps, who was on duty while Tom carried buckwheats into the breakfast room, and whose eyes, ears, and understanding were always wide awake,dropped her duster, settled her cap, and went to the door. And having presently detailed her message to Tom, Tom entered the breakfast-room and said "Miss Morsel, sir." "What the deuce have I to do with Miss Morsel ?" said Thornton. "Why don't you tell your mistress " MISS MORSEL. but replied 49 Tom coloured up to his eyes, "That's what Martha said, sir—she said she wanted to see you." "Martha humbugs you, Tom, about ten times a day. But show Miss Morsel in here, and then she can suit herself." 66 And give me another cup and saucer," said his mistress. "Is the parlour fire burning?" Well-pretty smart," said Tom doubtfully,-"not over and above.' "Never mind, ask Miss Morsel to walk in here." And meeting her visitor at the door, Rosalie explained to her how she thought the warmest room was the best that morning. 66 "So good of you!" said Miss Morsel, who was a benign, anxious-looking, somewhat care-worn little personage. Yes, it is rather cold this morning-the wind blows quite keen." And she shivered in her winter habiliments, which were none of the thickest." "It is particularly cold at this time in the morning," said Rosalie, as she brought Miss Morsel round to the side of the table next the fire. 66 You must sit down and take some breakfast with us.' "Oh no, my Well, a single cup-" said Miss Morsel, her face brightening up under bright influences-for it was a wonderfully pleasant thing to be so gently put into that comfortable chair by the fire. "I believe I must take a single cup-and only one lump of sugar if you please. It don't matter much about the size of it, but not more than one lump. I came out this morningqueer, isn't it?-but I came out to see your brother. Captain Thornton, is it a true statement of facts that the city's bombarded ?" "Not unless the reports have deafened my ears," said Thornton, fortifying himself with half a cup of coffee before he spoke. "I have heard nothing of it." "Well, I thought it couldn't be," said Miss Morsel, looking very much relieved, "for I've heard nothing of it either; only last night a boy was screaming about the E |