rned, ma'am, that that depends upon right-doing; --
so I am not always happy."

"Have you learned that lesson?" said the old woman. "It's a
good one. Let me see your hand?"

Elizabeth drew near and gave it.

"It's a pretty hand," -- said the old woman. "It's soft -- it
hain't done much work. It feels rich and handsome. Don't you
give it to no one who will help you to forget that the
blessing of God is better than silver and gold."

"Thank you. I will not."

"Be you a servant of the Lord, young lady?"

"I hope I am, Mrs. Underhill," Elizabeth answered with some
hesitation. "Not a good one."

The old woman dropped her hand and fell back in her chair,
only saying, for Elizabeth had risen,

"Come and see me again -- I'll be pleased to see ye."

"If I do! --" thought Elizabeth as she ran down to her boat.
The free air seemed doubly free. But then came the instant
thought, -- "Winthrop Landholm would not have said that. How
far I am -- how far! -- from where he stands!" --

She walked slowly down to the water's edge.

"Mr. Underhill," she said as she prepared to spring into the
boat which he held for her, -- "I have forgotten, while I was
at the house, what I partly came for to-night. We are out of
provisions -- have you any eggs, or anything of any kind, to
spare?"

"Eggs?" -- said Mr. Underhill, holding the boat, -- "what else
would you like along of eggs?"

"Almost anything, that is not salt meat."

"Chickens? -- we've got some o' them."

"Very glad of them indeed, -- or fresh meat."

"Ha'n't got any of that just to-day," said the old farmer
shaking his head. "I'll see. The boat won't stir -- tide's
makin' yet. You'll have a pull home, I expect."

He went back to the house, and Elizabeth stood waiting, alone
with her boat.

There was refreshment and strength to be had from nature's
pure and calm face; so very pure and calm the mountains looked
down upon her and the river smiled up. The opposite hill-tops
shone in the warm clear light of the October setting sun, the
more warm and bright for the occasional red and yellow leaves
that chequered their green, and many tawny and half turned
trees that mellowed the whole mountain side. Such clear light
as shone upon them! such unearthly blue as rose above them!
such a soft and fair water face that gave back the blue! What
could eyes do but look; what could the mind do but wonder, and
be thankful; and wonder again, at the beauty, and grow bright
in the s