come to us. Marian says she remembers
her own dear mother, and has been lonely without her these many
years." This was no welcome news to the weary mother; had it been
dear Benjamin alone that she was to live with, how she would have
hailed her deliverance, but another son's wife! How could she face
her, and be dependent on her? It would be her house and her money
that provided everything. She would feel like a beggar she was sure.
She could by no stretch of imagination conceive of a son's wife to be
other than a person to be dreaded. She spent many sleepless nights
over it and shed tears in secret. Her triumphant faith was never more
tried than now.

It may be that in some far-off day, by means of some wonderful
instrument yet uncreated, our eyes shall look upon our friends,
separated from them by long distances, shall know their comings and
goings, their thoughts and motives. Being not possessed of any such
power, mother Kensett vexed her soul in one city, while in another,
two young people, happy as birds, held long consultations as to which
should be mother's room, just how it should be furnished, and ran
here and there with the eagerness of children gathering moss and bits
of china, and all rare and pretty things for a play-house under the
trees.

Marian's ancestral home had been closed for a long time. It was a
stately mansion, of wide halls and towers and spacious apartments,
surrounded by magnificent grounds. During the last few months it had
been thoroughly remodelled and refurnished, and now the young couple,
after a brief bridal tour, were fairly established in it.

One might suppose that Mrs. Kensett would have felt some risings of
pride, as, leaning on the arm of her youngest son, she mounted the
marble steps, and walked through the spacious halls and beautiful
parlours of his home.

But John's home was handsome, too; the carpets were soft and rich,
the chairs luxurious, and curtained windows spread their drapery
about them in soft fine folds.

What of all that when hearts were frozen? Wealth to this mother meant
pride, selfishness, and irreligion.

She looked about her, feeling sure that a tall, elegant lady in a
stiff silk train would sweep in, extend the tips of her fingers, and
call a servant to get her off to her room with all possible despatch.

There was no one in the parlours, and Benjamin led his mother on into
the dining-room--a room full of warmth and light--the tea-table
already spread