to do? Not to make a noise in the world,
either by preaching or dying; not to bear persecution; just to live
true and shine, to comfort and cheer her mother, to reclaim and save
her father, to trust and be glad! Yes, less than that latter would not
do full honour to her Master or His truth; and so much as that He would
surely help her to attain. Dolly wandered about the cathedral, and
mused, and prayed, and grew quiet and strong, she thought; while her
mother was viewing the church treasures with Mr. St. Leger, Dolly
excused herself, preferring the church.

"Dolly, Dolly," said Mrs. Copley when at last she came away, "you don't
know what you have lost."

"It is not so much as I have gained, mother."

"I'm glad we have seen it, Mr. St. Leger; and I'm glad we have done
with it! I don't want to see any more sights till we get to Venice.
Where are the Thayers going, Dolly?"

"To Cologne, mother, and to Nice and Mentone, they said."

"I wish they were coming to Venice. How fat Christina has grown!"

"O mother! She is a regular beauty--she could not do with less flesh;
she ought not to lose an ounce of it. She is not fat. She is perfect.
Is she not, Mr. St. Leger?"

Lawrence assented that Miss Thayer had the symmetry of a beautiful
statue.

"Too fat," said Mrs. Copley. "If she is a statue now, what will she be
by and by? I don't like that sort of beauties. Her face wants life."

"It does not want sweetness," said Lawrence. "It is a very attractive
face."

"I am glad we stopped here, if it was only for the meeting them," said
Mrs. Copley. "But I can't see how you could miss all those diamonds and
gold and silver things, Dolly. They were just wonderful."

"All the Green vaults did not give me the pleasure this old church did,
mother."

CHAPTER XXI.

VENICE.

"You and your friend are the most perfect contrast," remarked Lawrence
as they were driving away. "She is repose in action--and you are
activity in repose."

"That sounds well," Dolly answered after a pause. "I am trying to think
whether there is any meaning in it."

"Certainly; or I hope so. She is placidity itself; one wonders if she
could be anything but placid; while you"----

"Never mind about me," said Dolly hastily. "I am longing to know
whether mother will like Venice."

"Shall you?"

"Oh, I like everything."

Which was the blissful truth. Even anxiety did not prevent its being
the truth; perhaps anxiety even at times put a keener edg