that made the sick man's lip tighten
once or twice and his eyes blur;--Lewis came to know all about Sister
Lydia; indeed, he knew more than the old man knew himself. When the
invalid grew stronger, Nathan wrestled with him over the Prophecies, and
Lewis studied them and the other foundation-stones of the Shaker faith
with a constantly increasing anxiety. "Because," he said, with a nervous
blink, "if you ARE right--" But he left the sentence unfinished. Once
he said, with a feeble passion--for he was still very weak--"I tell
you, Nathan, it isn't human!" and then added, under his breath, "but God
knows whether that's not in its fa-vor."

When he was quite well again he was plainly preoccupied. He pored
over the Prophecies with a concentration that made him blind even to
Athalia's tired looks. Once, when some one said in his presence, "Sister
'Thalia is working too hard," he blinked at her in an absent way before
the old, anxious attention awoke in his eyes.

Athalia tossed her head and said, "Brother Lewis has his own affairs to
think of, I guess!"

And he said, eagerly: "Yes, 'Thalia; I have been thinking--Some day I'll
tell you. But not yet."

"Oh, I haven't time to pry into other people's thoughts," she said,
acidly. And, indeed, just then her time was very full. She was
enormously useful to the community that second winter; her young power
and strength shone out against the growing weariness of the old sisters.
"Athalia's capable," Eldress Hannah said, and the other sisters said
"Yee," and smiled at one another.

"She IS useful," Sister Jane declared; "do you know, she got through the
churning before nine? I'd 'a' been at it until eleven!"

"Athalia is like one of those candles that have a streak of soft wax in
'em," Eldress Hannah murmured; "but she's useful, as you say, Jane."

In January, when the Eldress fell ill, Athalia was especially useful.
She nursed her with a passion of faithfulness that made the other
sisters remonstrate.

"You'll wear yourself out, Athalia; you haven't had your clothes off for
three days and nights!"

"The Lord has upheld me, and His right hand has sustained me," Athalia
quoted, with an uplifted look.

"Yee," old Jane assented, "but He likes sense, Athalia, and there
ain't any reason why two of us shouldn't take turns settin' up with her
tonight."

"This is my service," Athalia said, smiling joyously.

Eldress Hannah, lying with closed eyes, said, suddenly: "Athalia, do