biggest blessing in your life.'

'Do you think if I had been like Agatha, who prays even if she goes
shopping that she may spend the money properly, and if I had committed
my plans to God, this would have happened, Nannie?'

'No, I don't think it would,' was Nannie's grave reply.

Then there was silence, which Nannie broke by begging Gwen to have some
refreshment.

'No, thank you, Nannie, I must be going. I wish I had done with life,
and was in an almshouse with you. It would be so easy to be all that
one ought to be. Good-bye, you old dear. Pray for me, for I have a
dreadful time before me, and I don't see how on earth we are to live.
I shall have to earn money somehow at once. Perhaps I shall go into
service--that is the fashion now. Ladies are becoming servants to the
class who used to be in service. Give me your blessing and let me go!'

Gwen was talking fast and lightly to hide her emotion, but old Nannie
took hold of her hands and looked up at her very solemnly.

'My dear Miss Gwen, you have heard God's voice speaking to you many
times since you were a little girl. You are hearing it again now. Are
you going to close your ear to it? If your pride and self-confidence
is crumbled to dust, 'tis the opportunity to confess it to Him who
hates a proud look, and says the humble shall be exalted. Take your
bitterness of soul to the Saviour, and He will heal and comfort you.
Promise me you will listen to His voice!'

'You're a saint, Nannie; I promise you I will pray, if I have never
done so before. Good-bye.'

She went out into the pouring rain, found her way back to the station,
and an hour after was at Waterloo Station starting for Brambleton. She
was just getting into the carriage when some one accosted her. It was
Clement Arkwright, who had travelled out to California with her. He
looked unfeignedly pleased to see her.

'Just come home again, Miss Dane? How did you like California?'

Gwen hardly knew how to answer him. A rush of memories came over her.
The time on board ship when she had so systematically avoided him, and
cultivated with assiduity the one who had ruined her, stood up before
her with awful distinctness. But she pulled herself together, and
tried to speak unconcernedly.

'I am glad to be back again.'

'How is your brother? I hope the report I heard was not true, that he
had joined Alf Montmorency in his search for gold?'

Gwen was in the carriage now, and the train was