n, to ascertain the
real qualities of her heart and mind.

Certainly no deception was practised. Harriet was invited as a guest,
and treated with all the consideration of one, but Mrs. Somerton,
narrowly watched her conduct and her words.

It would be well if both young and old always remembered, that this life
is at best but a state of probation, and that in all our actions we are
but "on trial," watched over by the All-seeing God. And often, and
often, indeed, when we least suspect it, our doings are marked by our
fellow men, are weighed, even in an earthly balance, and so are permitted
to influence our earthly happiness. A poet has said--

"A deed can never die."

If my young readers do not yet understand how the consequences of our
actions follow us through life, and so do not perceive all the truth and
meaning of that line, I would advise them, nevertheless, to remember it;
some day they will understand it better.

We shall leave Harriet Mannering for awhile on her visit of pleasure and
gaiety, and return to the humble dwelling of her father and sister. What
with her household cares, and walking with and reading to her father, the
time flew rapidly with Mary: she met, too, with an unexpected return for
her attention and devotion.

At first, the books of history, divinity, and natural philosophy, which
were those her father had desired her to read, had seemed heavy and
abstruse, but gradually their meaning, like a dawning light, beamed upon
her mind, which, opening to receive it, let in the new delight of
intellectual pleasure! Then, in the long twilight of the summer evening,
when it was too dark to read, would she sit on a stool at her father's
feet, with one of his hands clasped in both of hers, and he would explain
away the difficulties at which her young mind had halted.

What did it signify that they sat in an humble, low-roofed chamber, and
that Mary's dress was one of cotton? They could discourse on the wonders
of creation, and the goodness of God!

But, if the pleasures of an enlarging mind were opening on Mary, new
cares were also stealing upon her. The many purchases Harriet had made,
had drawn heavily on their little stock of money, in addition to which,
Mr. Mannering had suffered so much pain in his eyes, that he had been
obliged to have further medical advice. Mary felt that some means must
be found of adding to their little income. At first, she thought of
attending pupils, and im