betoken?

The sad-browed dreamer knew but too well the end of all this; though,
whatever it might be, it was surely for the best, or it would not be
suffered.

While her thoughts were engaged upon the subject, she resolved to write
without delay to Alicia Linden, and speak to her about Ruth. Mrs.
Hardyng should not have everything put upon her. She had trouble enough
of her own.

Clemence, who felt as if she did not want to presume upon the generosity
of her friend, knew that the masculine Alicia would be prepared for any
emergency, having both the will and the ability to help her. It was only
her extreme conscientiousness that had led her, thus far, to struggle on
with her self-imposed burden. The girl had argued that it was not right
to call upon others to relieve from that which she had assumed of her
own free will.

Now, she beheld matters in a clearer light. There was a higher Will that
took out of her hands the ordering of her own actions. She had tried to
act wisely, and from the best and purest motives. Her strength having
now failed utterly, it was her duty to strive and repress all these
rebellious murmurings and go forward in the narrow path so many had
trodden before her.

This was unusually difficult for one of Clemence Graystone's proud,
independent spirit, but if pride conflicted with duty it must be
conquered. There was but one way, to "be careful for nothing."

However, it was the fault of her nature to go to the other extreme, and
despond when she could not see the path beyond marked out distinctly,
and illumined by the star of Hope.

Now, life had nothing in it but the affection of this clinging,
dependent child, to draw her from the contemplation of that future for
which her soul had longed these weary months of sorrowful waiting, and
where she hoped to gain the sweet reward for all her striving.

She had sought to live for the hour that was approaching, remembering,
all these years, that "Heaven is won or lost on earth; the possession is
_there_, but the preparation _here_."

The girl knew she had failed often, but she felt willing to trust
herself to the mercy of Him who loves those He chasteneth. She repeated
softly these words from a gifted woman's pen:--

"Though we fail, indeed,
You--I--a score of such weak workers--He
Fails never. If he cannot work by us,
He will work over us."

A sudden footstep roused the young dreamer, and her startled gaze res