o little, it would be my delight to consecrate my voice to the service
of God's house."

Still silence. All this made Marion remember her resolves at Chautauqua.

"What tunes do people sing in prayer-meeting?" she whispered to Eurie.

"I don't know, I am sure," Eurie whispered back. And then the ludicrous
side happened to forcibly strike that young lady, just then she shook
with laughter and shook the seat. Dr. Dennis looked down at her with
grave, rebuking eye.

"Well," he began; "if we cannot sing"--

And then, before he had time to say further, a soft, sweet voice, so
tremulous it almost brought the tears to think what a tremendous stretch
of courage it had taken, quivered on the air.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER VII.

PRAYER-MEETING AND TABLEAUX.

IT was Flossy who had triumphed again over self and a strong natural
timidity. Her voice trembled but for an instant, then it was literally
absorbed in the rich, full tones which Marion allowed to roll out from
her throat--richer, fuller, stronger than they would have been had she
not again received this sharp rebuke from the timid baby of their party.
But that voice of hers! I wish I could describe it to you. It is not
often that one hears such a voice. Such an one had never been heard in
that room, and the few occupants were surely justified in twisting their
heads to see from whence it came.

It was still a new thing to Marion to sing such words as were in that
hymn; and in the beauty of them, and the enjoyment of their richness,
she lost sight of self and the attention she was attracting, and sang
with all her heart. It so happened that every one of the three friends
could help her not a little, so our girls had the singing in their own
hands for the evening.

When the next hymn was announced, Marion leaned forward, smiling a
little, and covered with her firm, strong hand the trembling little
gloved hand of Flossy, and herself gave the key-note in clear, strong
tones that neither faltered nor trembled.

"You've taken up your little cross bravely," she whispered afterward.
"Shown me my duty and shamed me into it; the very lightest end of it
shall not rest on you any more."

Notwithstanding the singing, and finding that it could be well done, Dr.
Dennis took care to see that there should be much of it, that meeting
dragged. The few who were in the habit of saying anything, waited until
the very latest moment, as if hopeful that they