nd interfere with their appetites," replied Diana. "I have
got over my disappointment already; and Clarice will be a simpleton if
she do not."

"I expect Clarice and I will be simpletons," said Roisia, quietly.

"Please yourselves, and I will please myself," answered Diana. "Now,
mistress, Clarice seems to have given over crying for a few seconds; may
we see the gear?"

"Oh, I want Father Bevis!" sobbed Clarice, with a fresh gush of tears.

"Ay, my dove, thou wilt be the better of shriving," said Mistress
Underdone, tenderly. "Sit thee down a moment, and I will see to Father
Bevis. Wait awhile, Diana."

It was not many minutes before she came back with Father Bevis, who took
Clarice into his oratory; and as it was a long while before she rejoined
them, the others--Roisia excepted--had almost time to forget the scene
they had witnessed, in the interest of turning over Diana's _trousseau_,
and watching her try on hoods and mantles.

The interview with Father Bevis was unsatisfactory to Clarice. She
wanted comfort, and he gave her none. Advice he was ready with in
plenty; but comfort he could not give her, because he could not see why
she wanted it. He was simply incapable of understanding her. He was
very kind, and very anxious to comfort her, if he could only have told
how to do it. But love--spiritual love excepted--was a stranger to his
bosom. No one had ever loved him; he could not remember his parents; he
had never had brother nor sister; and he had never made a friend. His
heart was there, but it had never been warmed to life. Perhaps he came
nearest to loving the Earl his master; but even this feeling awakened
very faint pulsations. His capacity for loving human beings had been
simply starved to death. Such a man as this, however anxious to be kind
and helpful, of course could not enter in the least into the position of
Clarice. He told her many very true things, if she had been capable of
receiving them; he tried his very best to help her; but she felt through
it all that they were barbarians to each other, and that Father Bevis
regarded her as partially incomprehensible and wholly silly.

Father Bevis told Clarice that the chief end of man was to glorify God,
and to enjoy Him for ever; that no love was worthy in comparison with
His; that he who loved father and mother more than Christ was not worthy
of Him. All very true, but the stunned brain and lacerated heart could
not take it in. The