her, since they left Ireland, till last Sunday."

"I wonder," said Stella, "whether she understood anything she heard."

"Possibly she might be able to give as good an account of the sermon
as some other people," remarked Alick mischievously. "Come, Stella,
what was the text?"

"I don't believe you know yourself," retorted Stella, colouring; and,
fortunately for her, Alick's attention was just then directed to the
care of landing his passengers.

As they walked home, Stella and Marian in front, eagerly engrossed in
a children's party which the former was describing, Lucy remarked
impatiently to Alick, "How can Stella talk in that hard, unfeeling way
about poor people?"

"Poor girl!" said Alick, "it is sad to see any one so spoiled by
living in a cold worldly atmosphere. As you know more of the world,
Lucy, you will be more and more thankful for such a home as you have
always had."

Lucy was silent. Her cousin's words made her feel that she had been
indulging in self-righteous and uncharitable feelings, and she felt
humbled at the lesson which she had thus received from one who did not
profess to be a Christian, in one of a Christian's most important
graces. But she accepted the rebuke, and she added to her evening
prayer the petition that she might be made more humble, and less ready
to condemn; as well as that Stella's heart might be opened to receive
the love of Christ, and, through this, of her poor earthly brothers
and sisters.

The little party were soon assembled at home, and after cheerful
"good-nights,"--Harry remarking that "he was awful tired, but there
never had been a nicer picnic,"--the wearied excursionists soon lost
all sense of fatigue in peaceful slumbers and happy dreams.

VI.

_A Mission._

"And if this simple message
Has now brought peace to you,
Make known the old, old story,
For others need it too."

Two days after the picnic was the day fixed upon for Miss Preston's
wedding, to which, as has been said, Lucy had been invited to
accompany her father and aunt. Stella had not been included in the
invitation, which she privately thought a great omission. It would
have been such a good opportunity for showing the Ashleigh people how
they dress in the city, and she felt sure that, tastefully attired in
a lovely white grenadine, which would have been just the thing for the
occasion, she and her dress would have added no small _eclat_ to the
wedding.

Neverthe