myself with all these
things to-night? It is too late now!--too late now!"

Christie was alarmed at her evident excitement. Laying her gently down
on her pillow, and smoothing her hair, she said:

"If you please, ma'am, Mrs Greenly said I was not to speak to you, and
that you must be kept quiet."

With a strange sound between a sob and a laugh, she said:

"Ah, yes! It is easy for her to say, `Keep quiet;' but all her good
nursing does not reach my troubles. Oh, me; how weary I am! My mother
is dead, and I have no sister; and my brothers have quite forgotten me.
But if we could only be sure that what your sister says is true, about
the Friend that cares for us, and who will bring us safe through all
troubles!"

"It's not Effie that says it," said Christie, eagerly, "It's in the
Bible; and you may be quite sure it's true."

"I wouldn't care so much for myself; but these poor little children who
have no one but me, and I so weak and helpless. My heart fails when I
think of all they may have to bear. I suppose my mother had just such
anxious thoughts about me. Oh, if she had known all! but she could not
have helped me here."

"But the verse says, `A very present help in trouble,'" said Christie,
softly. "That's one difference between a heavenly Friend and all
earthly friends."

"Yes," said Mrs Lee, languidly. Christie continued:

"The Bible says, too, `The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon
Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.' And in another place, `Wait
on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart.'"

"Yes; if, as you say, one could be sure that all these words were for
us," said Mrs Lee. Christie faltered a little; but by and by she said:

"Well, the trust, like all other blessings, comes from Him. We can but
ask Him for it. At any rate, it is to those who are in trouble that He
promises help. It is to those who labour and are heavy-laden that
Christ has promised rest."

"Rest!" echoed Mrs Lee, wearily. "Oh for rest!"

"Yes; and He says He will give it to those who come to Him," continued
Christie. "We ought not to doubt Him. He has said, in twenty places,
that He will hear prayer."

"I have a prayer-book. My mother gave it to me. But I have neglected
it sadly."

"But the New Testament and the Psalms are full of promises to hear
prayer." And Christie repeated many verses as they came to her mind:

"_Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast