ing a naturally arbitrary temper, or an interfering disposition under the cloak of religious duty; and perverting the name of devotion for what is merely the enthusiasm of an excited imagination." "I see what you mean," replied Miss Neville rising, "but I shall never sit under any clergyman, unless his doctrines and preaching are exactly such as I approve." "Then Barbara, you will be like a kite without a string, blown about by every wind of doctrine," said Lady Olivia, rising also, "but I trust you will still keep in view that anchor of safety to us all, secret prayer and meditation. Try to compose your mind in solitude, my dear Barbara, on this important subject which we have discussed to-day, avoid all excitement for a time, and let me hope you will not be pledged to any sect or party till you feel assured of doing so on grounds that are perfectly sufficient and scriptural." Miss Neville silently left the room, but Lady Olivia had soon many vexatious evidences, that nothing was farther from the intention of her guest, than to pursue that cautious and rational line of conduct which she had suggested. One afternoon, having rung for Mrs. Millar, at an unusual hour, she obtained no answer, till after repeating the summons several times, when at length the drawing-room door was hurriedly opened, and the housekeeper entered in breathless haste, "I beg your pardon my Lady," she said, "but Miss Neville had not quite finished her exposition when your Ladyship's bell rung, and I could not interrupt the meeting." "I merely rung to settle this bill with you," said Lady Olivia, "but what did you say about an exposition?" "I thought your Ladyship had known," replied Mrs. Millar, "that Miss Neville assembles us all every evening in her room to explain the Scriptures and to teach us Mr. Harvey's new views, which are most surprising, and quite different from any thing I had ever known formerly." Lady Olivia looked up from her writing desk with extreme astonishment, and paused in silence for some moments, "pray Millar, how long have you been in the habit of hearing Miss Neville expound ?" she said at length in a tone of some anxiety. "Ever since she came here, Madam," replied Mrs. Millar, "I hope your Ladyship will not be displeased, for we all fancied you had known it, or not one of the servants would have attended." "No, Millar, I was not aware of this," said Lady Olivia, "and am very glad to have been informed of it now, though you need not suppose that I blame any one, as it is all intended for the best. I must, however, observe, that as there have been so many wise and good Christians before us, it is most probable that any entirely new views of religion must be entirely wrong, and that we should beware of being like the men of Athens, who were always enquiring for some new thing. God originally promised never to leave himself without a remnant of true believers on the earth, and it is not probable that he will reveal now, what has been hitherto concealed. But I shall converse with Miss Neville on this subject to-morrow, and in the mean time, I think Millar, that as we have family prayers here twice a-day, it may be as much as you can do with advantage, to attend these, along with the more private devotions, in which, I hope and believe, you regularly engage." Mrs. Millar respectfully withdrew, and Lady Olivia took the earliest opportunity which occurred, of speaking to Miss Neville, though she did so with that painfully nervous feeling, which is common to every mind of sensibility when duty obliges them to discuss or criticise the conduct of another, "Barbara!" said she, the following morning, in her most conciliatory tone, "I understand you have be gun a course of reading to the servants, which I am sorry you did not mention, that I might have been present also. It has occasioned me much regret, since your arrival here, that you have never joined my family circle at prayers, and I shall be happy now, to make some arrangement by which we may divide the duty, and enjoy the pleasure together, if that would be agreeable to you." "Our views are so very different," said Miss Neville, "that your presence would rather restrain the freedom of my expositions." "We might at least agree in the importance of studying the Scriptures," replied Lady Olivia, "and I have no objection to confine myself to these for the present, if it will induce you to join me. Where explanation is desirable, you may name the works of any ordained clergyman you please, and I shall be happy to coincide in reading them, but, my dear Barbara, I consider myself answerable for any instruction which is imparted in this house, to my servants, and on so serious an occasion as that of being taught from the word of God, I cannot allow them to assemble, without being present myself." Miss Neville's look was more in anger than in sorrow at this declaration, and feeling herself extremely ill-treated, she soon after left the room, while Lady Olivia's countenance assumed for some moments an unwonted expression of chagrin and anxiety, which soon yielded, however, to its usual look of calm and peaceful meditation, while these words occurred to her thoughts; "Let not your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions, I go to prepare a place for that where I am, there ye may be also." would willingly forsake such a simple belief as this teaches," thought she, "for all the learned controversies of the present day; here are doctrine, precept, and prophecy, all comprised in a single page, and level to every capacity; I you, "Who could meditate for ever on this one text, and there are hundreds to be found in Scripture of equal signification and interest. It holds out a balm for every worldly sorrow; and if I find it sufficient, surely there are few hearts upon earth that can need it more." Lady Olivia glanced around her silent and solitary drawing-room, while the images of her husband and of her children crowded into her thoughts, and the tears flowed insensibly down her cheek. "I believe in God, and therefore I am comforted," thought she, covering her face with her hands and struggling for composure, "I believe in a Saviour, and therefore I feel myself pardoned and pitied. I look to the mansions where those whom I loved will yet dwell with me in eternal blessedness, and I feel that my hour of sorrow is short and easy. I think upon the path of suffering through which Christ went on his mission of mercy, and I long to follow Him, and to rejoice in His presence for ever. Oh ! surely these consolotary thoughts are indeed to me the fulfilment of that promise in Scripture, My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in thy weakness,' for these words give to me that 'peace' which Christ bequeathed as His last best gift to His disciples, and which is like the white stone mentioned in the Revelation, 'which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it."" CHAPTER V. Her maternal care, Incessant watches o'er the feeble frame, COWPER. SOME weeks after Miss Neville had been domesticated at Ashgrove, Lady Olivia was one morning alarmed and grieved to receive a letter from Lady Howard, mentioning that Lady Fitz-Patrick's son having recently had a severe typhus fever, she had invited Eleanor to take refuge at her house, but that in spite of every precaution, both the girls had been seized with that dangerous complaint in its worst form, and were considered to be alarmingly ill. It was many years since Lady Olivia had left her own house, but without a moment's delay she proceeded to Barry's hotel, accompanied by Miss Neville, and prepared with all a mother's anxiety and tenderness, to take her place by the bed-side of the beloved invalids, and to watch over them with the same deep solicitude and affectionate care which had once been so unavailingly exerted for her own children, who were scarcely more dear to her than Eleanor and Matilda. "There is a right and a wrong way of doing every thing," as the Frenchman said, who wrote a book on the best way of blowing out a candle; and nothing in the world shows greater diversity of character and disposition than attending a sick-bed. Every affection of the heart is then called forth, and must be accompanied with fortitude and pru |