cknowledgment of the protecting
kindness which had carried them in safety through the day--without
invoking the same protecting care through the watches of the
night--without the acknowledgment of the sins of the day, and the
prayer for forgiveness, and the petitions for dear absent ones--to
which she had always been accustomed. It was plain that no custom of
the kind existed in Mr. Brooke's family.

Notwithstanding her mother's prohibition, Stella did linger long in
Lucy's room, chattering about one thing after another, Amy's wide-open
eyes watching them from her pillow. "I'm going just in a minute," she
would say, when Lucy reminded her of what her mother had said, and
then she would rush into some new subject. Lucy was tired, and was
longing to have a little quiet time to herself; but Stella, who was
undressing beside her, and would be in bed and asleep as soon as she
should go back to her own room, did not consider that.

"There's Stella chattering away yet," said Ada, as she and Sophy came
up-stairs. "Stella, how naughty of you to stay here so long, keeping
Lucy up!"

"I was just talking about two or three things," said Stella.

"I have no doubt of that," Sophy remarked; "but I'm sure Lucy would
prefer to have the conversation postponed till to-morrow."

Ada was examining the various little possessions of Lucy's, which were
already on the dressing-table. "Well, if she hasn't got her Bible out
already!" she exclaimed. "What a good child it is! Does it read it
every night?"

"I thought every one did," said Lucy simply, though her cheek flushed
at the tone of the remark.

Ada laughed, and Sophy smiled satirically, though she did not speak.

"Well, you are a simple little thing," said Ada. "When you've lived in
town for awhile you'll know better."

"Oh, they're all such good people in Ashleigh! I never knew I did so
many wicked things till I was there," said Stella.

Lucy looked pained, and Sophy interposed. "Well, you've shocked Lucy
enough for one night, and it's high time she and you too were in bed.
So come at once, Stella."

Ada and Stella kissed Lucy affectionately, as they followed Sophy out
of the room, and Lucy was left alone, to think with surprise and
distress of the total want of religious feeling which her cousins'
remarks betrayed. When she had once more thanked God for His goodness,
and implored His supporting help, and had read a few comforting verses
out of her Bible, she did not forget t