Margaret as if they had been acquainted almost for years.

As Margaret's duties required that she should be constantly with her charge, a bed was placed for her to sleep in, by the side of Jane's. But on this first night of Margaret's arrival Jane was unusually wakeful. She wondered that Margaret did not retire to rest, as she expected, almost immediately after every arrangement had been made for the night; and, peeping out from between her curtains, she saw her close a book which she had been reading, and then bow the knee in prayer to God. To her this was a strange sight indeed. She wondered at it much; for never had she been taught the necessity of secret prayer, nor was it likely she could learn a lesson of piety beneath her uncle's roof, when even a Bible was not to be found in the house.

But her surprise at witnessing the conduct of Margaret was followed with esteem and respect. Her conscience approved of that which she herself did not practise. A class of feelings to which she had hitherto been a stranger were now excited in her bosom; but she remained silent, nor was it till after Margaret had for some time retired to rest that Jane could fall asleep.

CHAPTER III,

Immediately after breakfast on the ensuing morning Mr. and Mrs. Slade visited Jane's chamber, and expressed their pleasure at witnessing the arrangements of Margaret, and the improved spirits of her charge. Soon after the surgeon attended, and dressed a painful seton which it had been deemed requisite to open as a remedy for Jane's disorder. She submitted with patience to the operation, which was extremely painful, and after a time, when left alone with her attendant, she said,

"Oh! Margaret, this seton is very painful : I can hardly help screaming aloud when the doctor touches it."

"I dare say it is, my dear Miss Jane," answered Margaret, "but you must pray to God to give you patience to bear it, and to bless it for your recovery."

This was altogether a new idea to Jane, as well as a most unusual mode of address, who after a pause said,

"Pray to God, Margaret, about my seton! why I never heard of such a thing."

"Surely, my dear Miss, the Bible tells us so. It says, 'in every thing, by prayer and supplication make your requests known unto God."

"The Bible!" said Jane; " some of our young ladies at school have very handsome ones, bound in morocco and gilt; they take them with their prayer-books every Sunday to church. But I have not one."

"Do they not read the Bible then at school ?" said Margaret.-"No," said Jane." And don't you read it at home?" asked Margaret. The answer was, "No, we have not one."

"Ah!" said Margaret, sighing, "I am sorry for it. I have one, and I would not on any account pass a day without reading some portion of it."

"Why so?" inquired Jane.

"Because," said Margaret, "it is God's own word. It is the blessed book which he has given to tell us how we may be saved, and how at last we may get to heaven."

"Was that the book then," said Jane, "that you was reading last night?"

"Yes," replied Margaret, "it was; but I did not know you saw me."

"I should like to read it much," said Jane.

D

Margaret's eyes glistened with delight; this was what she ardently desired. "You are too weak, my dear, I fear, just now," said she, "but, if you like, I will read it to you."

"Do, do, that's a good, kind Margaret. I am sure I shall love you so."

Margaret took the book, and read part of the history of our Saviour: having finished a chapter, she was about to close the book, when her auditor said, "Do not stop; go on, Margaret."" But, my dear, you are tired, and I should do wrong to fatigue you."-" No," said she, "I am not tired; I like it much; pray, pray go on."

It was with difficulty at last that she, after reading several chapters, was able to close the book, so deeply had her auditor become engaged; and it was only by promising to resume the reading in the afternoon that she could pacify the mind of Jane.

In the afternoon she again, at Jane's earnest solicitation, resumed the reading of the sacred Scriptures, and was delighted to find with what avidity her auditor listened to her. She saw that already a deep interest had been awakened in the bosom of Jane in behalf of religion, and often did she secretly lift up her

neart in silent and ejaculatory prayer, that the good Spirit of light and wisdom would aid and succeed her humble endeavours.

When Jane was about to retire for the night, as she occupied a sofa during the day, she thus commenced a conversation with Margaret, who was aiding to undress her:

"I have been thinking, Margaret, that I ought not now to go to bed without praying to God: but I do not know how to pray."

Margaret now felt inexpressible pleasure at hearing this avowal, and answered,

"I am glad to hear you say so, Miss Jane. and if you really desire to know how to pray, God will teach you; for in his Word he has promise to teach those who desire it. He has promised to give his people 'the spirit of prayer and supplication.""

"But what shall I say? I do not know what words to utter; I am afraid I should talk nonsense; and then God Almighty would be. angry with me."

"I have," said Margaret, "a book which contains several prayers written for children, which I will lend you, and you will find some that are very suitable for you. But the good lady who taught me at our Sunday-school