so been out, thus leaving every opportunity for Jarvis
to indulge in the stimulants she had stolen.

Mrs. Reston also remembered that on returning home she had found the key
of the cellaret, which she had missed, lying on the floor close to the
side-board, and the door locked as usual. Symonds had come in to prayers
alone, and said that cook had gone to bed with a bad headache.

"Send Jarvis to me as soon as she comes down," she said to the
housemaid, who answered her summons.

"It's too disappointing," she soliloquised; "I felt so positive that
Jarvis would do well; I am sure there is nothing I have left undone to
help her in her attempts to abstain." Kind, good Mrs. Reston, there is
just one thing you have left undone; but when you shortly learn how you
have failed to do all that was necessary to effectually help your weak
sister, will you have sufficient courage and love to enable you to
remedy the past and help to save a soul from perishing in its sin?

There was a knock at the door, and Jarvis entered with swollen, downcast
eyes and face redder than usual.

"Well, Jarvis," said Mrs. Reston, after a moment's silence.

"I've got nothing to say, ma'am; I can go as soon as you like," sullenly
replied the woman.

Mrs. Reston sighed. Was it any use to give Jarvis another trial, or
should she send her away at once? She looked at the half-averted face
and the nervous hands that were busily folding and unfolding the hem of
her apron, and with a wave of pity surging in her heart for the sinning,
suffering creature before her, said quickly and tenderly:

"But I don't want you to go, Jarvis. I want to save you, if you will let
me. Come, tell me what else I can do for you."

Jarvis looked up, half doubting the evidence of her senses.

"Ma'am," she gasped, between heavy, choking sobs; "do you really mean to
say that you care about saving such an ungrateful wretch as me?"

"Why, Jarvis, of course I do. I will do _anything_ to help you."

"Would you, oh would you do anything, ma'am?"

Again Mrs. Reston repeated the assurance. Battling with her emotion,
Jarvis said: "I'm ashamed to ask such a favour at your hands, ma'am, but
I believe there's only one thing under heaven that would be the saving
of me."

"What is that, Jarvis?"

There was a long pause, and then Jarvis blurted out: "I've never signed
the pledge, ma'am; but if you'd draw up some kind of a promise to keep
from the drink, and put your own name to it, an