t and orderly as the lines in
the clasped volume where Phoebe was dutifully writing her abstract of the
day's reading and observation, in childishly correct miniature
round-hand.

The curtain was looped up, and the moon of a frosty night blanched a
square on the carpet beneath the window, at which she often looked with a
glistening gaze. Her father and brother had been expected at
dinner-time; and though their detention was of frequent occurrence,
Phoebe had deferred undressing till it should be too late for their
arrival by the last train, since they would like her to preside over
their supper, and she might possibly hear of Robert, whose doings her
father had of late seemed to regard with less displeasure, though she had
not been allowed to go with Miss Charlecote to the consecration of his
church, and had not seen him since the Horticultural Show.

She went to the window for a final look. White and crisp lay the path,
chequered by the dark defined shadows of the trees; above was the sky,
pearly with moonlight, allowing only a few larger stars to appear, and
one glorious planet. Fascinated by the silent beauty, she stood gazing,
wishing she could distinguish Jupiter's moons, observing on the
difference between his steady reflected brilliance and the sun-like
glories of Arcturus and Aldebaran, and passing on to the moral Miss
Charlecote loved, of the stars being with us all day unseen, like the
great cloud of witnesses. She hoped Miss Charlecote saw that moon; for
sunrise or set, rainbow, evening gleam, new moon, or shooting star, gave
Phoebe double pleasure by comparing notes with Miss Charlecote, and
though that lady was absent, helping Mrs. Saville to tend her husband's
mortal sickness, it was likely that she might be watching and admiring
this same fair moon. Well that there are many girls who, like Phoebe,
can look forth on the Creator's glorious handiwork as such, in peace and
soothing, 'in maiden meditation fancy free,' instead of linking these
heavenly objects to the feverish fancies of troubled hearts!

Phoebe was just turning from the window, when she heard wheels sounding
on the frosty drive, and presently a carriage appeared, the shadow
spectrally lengthened on the slope of the whitened bank. All at once it
stopped where the roads diverged to the front and back entrances, a black
figure alighted, took out a bag, dismissed the vehicle, and took the path
to the offices. Phoebe's heart throbbed. It w