e left them.

"Did anybody ever have such a dear mamma as ours!" exclaimed Vi,
nestling close to her sister.

"No, I think not," replied Elsie in a tone of grave consideration. "But
now we mus'n't talk anymore; because she bade us not: and I've come to
bed early to-night to please you--"

"Yes, you dear, good sister, you very dearest girl in all the world!"
interrupted Vi, rising on her elbow for a moment to rain a perfect
shower of kisses upon the sweet face by her side.

Elsie laughed low and musically and hugging her tight returned the
caresses, then went on, "But I mus'n't keep you awake. So now let's lie
down and not say one word more."

"No; not a single one," returned Vi, cuddling down again.

"Mamma," said Eddie, coming into the school-room next morning with a
slight frown on his usually pleasant face, "why do you call us to
lessons? can't we have holidays now that we are going away so soon?"

"No, my son; I think it best to attend now to our regular duties. You
will have a rest from study while taking the journey, and for a few days
after we reach Viamede. Will not that be better?" she asked, with a
motherly smile, as she softly smoothed back the dark clustering curls
from his broad open brow.

"But I don't want to say lessons to-day," he answered with a pout, and
resolutely refusing to meet her glance.

"My little son," she said, with tender gravity, "were we sent into this
world to please ourselves?"

"No, mamma."

"No; 'even Christ pleased not himself,' and we are to try to be like
him. Whose will did he do?"

"His Father's, mamma."

"Yes, and whose will are you to do?"

"God's will, you've taught me, mamma, but--"

"Well, son?"

"Mamma, will you be angry if I say my thought?"

"I think not: let me hear it."

"Mamma, isn't--isn't it your will this time? About the lessons I mean.
Please mamma, don't think I want to be naughty, asking it?"

She drew him closer, and bending down pressed her lips to his forehead.
"No, my son, you want it explained, and I am glad you told me your
thought. Yes, it is my will this time, but as God bids children honor
and obey their parents, is it not his will also?"

"I s'pose so, mamma. But I wish it didn't be your will to have me learn
lessons to-day."

Elsie was forced to smile in spite of herself. With another slight
caress she asked, "Do you think I love you, Eddie?"

"Oh yes, yes mamma, I know you do, and I love you too: indeed I do
dearly, dearl