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and, knowing that our guilt is heinous, He has promised to wash crimson and scarlet sins until they are as white as snow."

Hubert did not reply to these solemnly spoken words, but he looked unusually thoughtful. As Ethelda once more kissed his brow, she said, "Let that verse in the Psalms be a constant subject for prayer between us; let us daily seek grace to go from strength to strength; and, darling Huie, if we do not meet on earth again, may it be on the summit of the Mount, in the presence of our Saviour God."

Early the following morning all the members of the household were astir. Hubert had partaken of a hasty breakfast, and the horses were ordered to the door in a quarter of an hour.

"Is the governor up?" he inquired of Ethelda, as she came out of the library.

"Our dear father is waiting to see you," she replied, in a tone that conveyed a mild reproof for the use of a word which, she often had told Hubert, was wholly devoid of affectionate regard.

Old Mr. Alleyne had risen earlier than usual to bid his sailor son, "farewell." He gathered together all his children, and knelt with them round the throne of grace, commending the young voyager to His care who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth. His words were very few, but he said earnestly, "God bless you, Hubert; " and he tried to

hide his strong emotion as he added, "You'll write sometimes?"

"Often, I hope, dear father;" and Hubert inwardly resolved to give no more cause of anxiety to the beloved par ent, who stood before him with hairs silvered by the progress of the last few years.

Soon the brothers were off to the station. The quick canter at which it was necessary that the horses should go, contributed to raise Hubert's spirits, and he already began to sing aloud,

"The sea, the sea, the bright blue sea,

Where I would ever, ever be."

The railway whistle was heard as Jeannette reached the top of the hill, still two hundred yards from the station. She seemed to understand the necessity of speed, and galloped onwards. Rowland followed on "Dapple Grey." In a moment the reins were given to the servant in waiting. "Take care, George, of my beautiful Jeannette till I come back," said he, frankly shaking hands with the groom. "Goodby, old Rover; keep off from the engine. Where is the luggage? All right? Now I am in. Rowly, my boy, goodby. Companionship with my own thoughts here. Goodby, Rowly!" and the train was gone, and the lighthearted Hubert was off! off! and away!

There was an earnest need for prayer, and though he oft

forgot his high and holy privilege, there were beloved ones at home who interceded for their absent one; and those supplications which ascended as the mist of morning were to collect on high, until a Father's hand poured them down in showers of blessings, on the absent son, on the far-separated brother.

CHAPTER V.

ENDEAVOURING.

"Oft in danger, oft in woe,

Onward, Christian, onward go;
Bear the toil, maintain the strife,
Strengthened with the bread of life.

Onward, then, to glory move,

More than conqu'rors ye shall prove;
Though opposed by many a foe,
Christian soldiers, onward go."

QUIET but pleasant days passed at Alleyne after Hubert's departure. Every one missed the young sailor, but no one so much as Gertrude, whose bright young face wore a cloud that did not often overshadow it. This was, however, soon dissipated by an arrangement that her father made, for her to spend the winter in London, taking lessons of different masters in various branches of study and of art. Ethelda and Rowland were thus left for some weeks alone. They took sweet counsel together; they walked as friends, they urged one another to love and to good works, they grew together as fair trees in the vineyard which the Great Husbandman had planted.

Rowland's mornings were devoted to study, and each afternoon, he enjoyed either a walk or a ride with his beloved sister. Colin and Jeanie were often visited, and Rowland no longer found it difficult to discover something to say to the old man. Sometimes he would venture to go alone, and after he had listened to tales of the sea, and of wayside wanderings, he would hear the testimony that the aged believer bore to the faithfulness of his God.

"And now, master," one day said old Colin, "has not the Lord helped us hitherto ? Surely, surely, we need not fear; nor need you, my young sir, if you do but trust Him, and look at Him straight. The Lord can bear a straight look, for He has nought to hide; and we need not fear it neither, for our robe has nae flaw. It's all the work of

the Lord Jesus."

"But, Colin, I can't be satisfied with myself-I.can't get on as I wish to do.”

t;

"Be satisfied with yourself, master! ye manna be that but be satisfied with the Saviour, for ye canna have no better."

"I know that, Colin," said Rowland, very earnestly; "but though he can't be a better Saviour, I wish that I was a better servant."

"Aye, that's true, young master; and if ye say so, who are so early walking in the right path, much more reason have I, a poor auld grey-haired sinner." The tears filled old Colin's eye, and a look of great distress came over his countenance. At length a smile once more lit up his face,—

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