so-for all the Maxfield household was held bound to join in these weekly prayer-meetings-told her that the hymn would be over directly. Rhoda felt shy of entering into the mid

rom her post there she heard the neighbours go away, and the street-door close heavily behind them. Now she might venture to sli

n their place on the little table where th

elf, and bade Mr. Powell "Good evening." He returned her salutati

ou, is it, Rhoda? Your father is gone with Mr. Gladwish to his house

iness this evening was not so pressing but that it might have been deferred. But Maxfield did not choose to give Powell an opportunity of private conversation with himself at that time; he wanted to see his way clearer before he took the decided step of

Mr. Powell's society but the masterful influence of her brother-in-law. She escaped to her haven of refuge,

d, half-impatient movement of her shoulders. She wished Powell gone, more hear

ds clasped and his eyes ca

cloak off. Aunt Betty would be back presently. If Mr. Powell didn't mind for

oking up at her with his lustrous, earnest eye

thing to hide in it. She did not seat herself, but stood, with one hand on the wooden mantelshelf, looking into the fi

Mr. Powell?

nfully on her hearer. He did not understan

spirit has been much ex

y bent her head a little lower, as sh

ve not the root of the matter as a Christian hath it. The fabric is built on sand. Fair as it is, a breath

thus reproved, with the sense of a painful shock from this jarring discord coming to close the harmonious impressions of her pleasant day, and with an inar

ly the sincere purpose of the man shone in him clear as sunlight. "My heart yearns with compassion over you. Are those the words of a believing and

eager look dies out of your eyes! Rhoda, do you ever think how much God loveth us? How much he loveth you, poor perishing little

rembled as she repeated once more, "I try-I do

erviceable. He has chosen me, even me, to call you to Him. However much you

d. But I don't think there's any such great harm in going to see a-a young lady who is t

eld fast by those few words in a helpless wa

strong will. "No, Rhoda; you know you are not. There is harm in following our own inclinations, rather than the voice of the spirit within us

ject of Powell's reproving admonition decreased. She could bear to be told that it was wrong to visit Minnie Bodkin. She should not like to be told so, and she should refuse to believe it, but she could

w for yourself and others. You are listening to the sweet voice of temptation, and giving your conscience into the hand of the ungodly to ruin and de

-I don't think it's charitable to speak so of

fled out of the room, but her strength failed her. Her heart was beating so fast that she could scarcely breathe. Her distress pained Powell to the heart; pained him so much, as to dismay him with a vivid glimpse of the temptation t

ath no wisdom? And how hast thou ple

heir recurrence as an undoubted inspiration from Heaven. The belief in such direct and immediate communications was a vital part of his faith; and to have destroyed it would, in great pa

es. I have read them all so plainly, that I must believe the Lord has given me a special insight in your case, that I may call you unto Him with power. You are suffering, Rhoda, and sorry; but you have not thrown your burden upon the Lord. You have set up His creature as an idol in your soul, and have bowed down and worshipped it. And you fancy, poor unwary lamb, that such love as yours was never before felt by mortal, and that never did mortal so entirely deserve it! And you say in your heart, 'Lo, this man talks of what

the mere words bore but a small part. Eyes, voice, and gesture expressed the most absolute, self-fo

icked and godless, because you have human feelings? I never

, Rhoda, look upward! Yet a little while and the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest, and there cometh peace unspeakable. This earthly love is but a fleeting show. Can you say that you connect it with your hope of Heaven and your faith in God? Does he whom you love reverence the things you have been taught to hold sacred? Is he awakened to a sense of sin? N

bowed down upon her hands. She was crying bitterly, but silently; but, at the preacher's la

is as the faint light of a taper to a raging fire-as a trickling water-brook to the deep, dreadful sea! Child, child, you know not the power of the Lord. His voice has said to my unquiet soul, 'Be still,' and it obeys Him. Shall He not speak peace to your purer, clearer

yet it wore a singular expression of timid obstinacy. She was struggling to ward off t

ence, or any feeling save profoundest pity, and sweetness, and sorrow, her heart melted. The right chord

med, "Oh, don't be so sorry for me, Mr. Powe

the room. Rhoda sprang from her knees,

ried Powell, wringing his hands.

him with a heavy frown. "We must ha