panes before," said Hubert, merrily addressing the window as he leaped over the flower-beds, that way being the nearest to the front door.

The envelope was quickly opened and flung aside, and the letter within was at once read aloud, so that Hubert and his sisters knew at the same moment the good tidings. "So here is your brother, Lieutenant in Her Majesty's

ship, 'The Harbinger.' Hip, hip, hurrah!" shouted the merry-hearted Hubert, "and it is bound for China; so I shall see half, if not all the world, before I am at home again."

"That is a long way," said Gertrude, tears of pure affection filling his sister's eyes. "I wish it had been at Spithead or Sheerness, and then you would have constantly been running down to pay us a visit."

"Sheerness, Gerty? no, no, thank you. Ho, ho, for the far East! I shall bring you home, Gerty, ladies' pinched-up shoes, and, if I could get it, a Chinaman's tail; and then I would get all the strange corals, and sea-weeds, and shells I could find for Rowland; and idols and joss-sticks, and extraordinary books and porcelain, for you, Ethie; and a mandarin's cloak for my father. Oh, it will be capital! And then we may have an opportunity of showing that I am brave, in beating those rascally pirates;-all steps to being Rajah of Paripâk, or Sir Hubert Alleyne, at some future day. What say you, Ethie?"

Ethelda looked at her brother's handsome, animated countenance. The eye which had been sparkling so bril

liantly rested on her, and in a moment became more thoughtful. He saw that her cheek wore a smile and bore a tear at the same moment. She tried to speak, but there was something that seemed to choke her. "Ethie, darling, what is the matter? Haven't we been always wishing for this?"

"Yes, I know, Huie; I am very glad. It is quite the voyage you will like. And," as he came near and kissed his sister, she continued, "my own dearest brother, may a Father's outstretched hand bring you to our own shores once more in safety."

"Oh, yes, Ethie, three years will pass quickly away."

"But, you know," replied his sister, "we can't stand still as they go forward. Changes will surely come,' only if we trust in God, we need not fear to see them. My precious Hubert, seek first the kingdom of heaven. is our noblest ambition."

That

"I know you are right, Ethie; and you know I mean both to be good and great. At least I shall try," added the young lieutenant, speaking for once with thought as well as determination; "but now I must go and tell my father the news;" and with an elastic step and upright mien the ardent youth hurried towards the library.

'Heavenly Father! be Thou my brother's Guide and Guard," prayed Ethelda; and He, who listens to each whispered petition, prepared to answer the sister's cry, and guided the blind in a way that he knew not, and guarded the careless one through dangers, of which he was not

aware.

CHAPTER IV.

OFF OFF! AND AWAY!

"Our times are in Thy hands,

O God, we wish them there:

Our life, our friends, our souls we leave
Entirely to Thy care."

THERE was but one thing concerning the new appointment that Hubert declared was provoking. He must be in town on the 24th of December, and consequently could not be at home on the following blessed day of family-gathering, the birthday of the Prince of Peace. Many Christmas-days had passed since he had stirred the "yule log," or partaken of the goose-pie and fadge, or decked with holly-leaves and berries the stag-antlers that adorned the hall. To forego all this, somewhat damped the pleasure of his ardent anticipations; and then he likewise began to think of the reality of what Ethelda and Gertrude had felt on first hearing of the appointment, that three years of hemispheric separation were long, and that many changes might take place whilst he was far away.

Hubert had a small morocco Bible, with a gold rim all round it, that had been given him by Ethelda, when first he started as a naval cadet. It had ever since been his constant companion, and though often he passed the day and tumbled into his berth at night without opening it, he had yet enjoyed, on Sunday especially, hours of study over the Sacred Volume, and valued it not only from early association, but likewise from some faint appreciation of the value of its contents. It was near midnight on the evening before he started, that Ethie, imagining her brother was in bed, gently opened his room door. She was surprised to see him sitting near the fire, bending over the gold-rimmed book. He hastily shut the volume, and seemed as if he wished to turn his face from her. The manly Hubert had been weeping, and his brilliant eyes were at that moment suffused with tears.

you

"I hope I don't disturb you, Huie. I thought, my boy,

had been in bed. I was only going to put this parcel into your carpet-bag."

"Let us see what is it, Ethie?" he said, smiling as he spoke, and endeavouring to assume his usual careless

manner.

"A little bit of Ethie's work to rival mandarin shoes." "Why do you do such pretty sort of things? said Hubert, examining the slippers. "How can I turn these heels down and tread your work under foot? They are very pretty, though; I like them very much, my old girl. Oh, Ethie, I wish I could take you all away with mc, and

then I should be as happy as a king, or rather, a great deal happier."

The

Ethie bent down and fondly caressed her brother. tears, which had been gathering in her eyes, now fairly ran down her cheeks, and quite in vain were all her efforts to speak. At length Hubert said gently, and rather cheerfully, "Come, Ethie, this won't do. Sailors' sisters must always make up their minds for parting with their brothers. I was reading a verse I liked very much just wanted you to tell me exactly what it means. Psalm lxxxiv. 7, 'They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.'"

now, and I

This is it,

"Oh, Hubert! that is a beautiful verse. It speaks of grace now and of glory hereafter. It is the description of those who are clambering up the Mount of God. Now it is progress; hereafter, fruition of joy: now from strength to strength; hereafter, in the heavenly Zion, appearing before God-present with him, whom not having seen, we have loved."

"It is not that, Ethie," replied Hubert, sadly; "not, we have loved."

"Whom we will love, then ?"

"I dare not say that. You, dear girl, do not know how wicked I have been; and what must God think of it, when He chargeth even His angels with folly, and declares that even the heavens are not clean in His sight?"

"And," added Ethelda, "knowing that we cannot help ourselves, He has laid help on One that is mighty,