afternoon, Herbert; you seem to have taken a great fancy to her." "Have you not, too?" he asked. Ella did not reply, but turned on him a smile that was answer sufficient. After dinner Herbert's chair was again brought into the garden, and Blanche sat down by it, while Ella and Maggie were busy in the parlour with the lessons. "Blanche," said Herbert, "I want you to talk to me and enliven me a little, for I am very dull." "What am I to talk about? you oughtn't to be dull this weather; it's delightful." "To those who can enjoy it perhaps it is, Blanche." "And you can enjoy it, Herbert. Look at those beautiful white clouds; I have spent many an hour watching them. They are lovely! they either lie still, or move on, just as the wind pleases. Do you know what they remind me of?" "No; what do they?" "Of what we should be in God's hands." A shade passed over Herbert's brow, and he made an uneasy movement. "You are a strange child, Blanche." "Am I? But look, Herbert, how still those clouds lie now; they seem to say if God bids us lie still, and not do anything for Him, but only suffer, we ought to do it quietly as those clouds do, and then when the wind comes and blows us on, we shall be as ready for it as the clouds are." Herbert sighed. "Herbert, you are like the clouds now, aren't you?" "No, Blanche, I cannot lie still; I pine to be doing something-to be working." "Ah, but, Herbert, that is not right; God would have made you able to work if He had meant you to work; He would have sent the wind and blown you on." Herbert covered his face with his hands. "You aren't angry with me for speaking so, Herbert, are you?" said Blanche, a little fearfully. "No, oh no; go on." "But I haven't any more to say," said Blanche, with a smile. Herbert did not answer, but closed his eyes. After a time, Blanche, thinking he was asleep, moved from his side, and wandered about the garden, singing to herself as she walked. Once as she came near Herbert again she was surprised to see him gazing at her. He called her to him. "What were you singing, Blanche ?" he asked. "Did you hear me? I thought you were asleep." "I was not, though. What was it?" "Tell it me." Blanche repeated it. "And do you feel that it is true, Blanche ?" "Yes, don't you?" said Blanche, in sur prise. "No." "Oh, Herbert, why?" |