rcer blast than before, which drove the rain and spray against
their faces, compelled them to close the window; yet Hannah could not
withdraw herself from it, for she still caught an occasional flash, and
could distinguish the roar of the guns even amidst the howling of the
wind.

"What help can we render to them?" she again asked.

"We may give them aid--all the aid which we have the power to give,"
said Mrs Graybrook, placing her work on the table. "We can pray for
them as we pray for those who are far away."

"I never cease to pray for those dear ones, mother, morning and evening,
and every hour of the day," said Hannah. "Oh, that they had learned to
pray for themselves," she murmured; "to seek that aid in time of need
which will never be withheld!"

Together the mother and daughter knelt, and offered up their prayers to
the throne of grace, that help might be sent to those near at hand,
while their petitions went up also for those loved ones at a distance.
They knew that the all-seeing eye of the God of mercy could follow them,
that His far-reaching hand could protect them, and that, feeble as were
their petitions, He heard and would grant them if He saw fit.

They rose with hearts cheered and comforted.

"I should indeed be happier if Harry had known and accepted the truth,"
said Mrs Graybrook, continuing the conversation just before begun. "He
is so light-hearted, and, enjoying health and strength, so confident in
himself, that his mind has hitherto appeared incapable of attending to
spiritual things; though, when I have spoken to him, he has respectfully
listened with a grave countenance; but the subject has evidently not
been to his taste. My grief is, also, that your father so admires his
bold and daring spirit, that he encourages him to think more of the
things of this world than of the future. Excellent as your father is,
too, he has not had the same advantages of receiving religious
instruction which we have possessed, and is therefore unable to impart
it to Harry. This made me very unwilling that your brother should go to
sea before he was a confirmed Christian; but your father was so
determined to take him that I was compelled to consent."

Mrs Graybrook would not have spoken thus to Hannah of her father's want
of religious principle, but that she knew her daughter was well aware of
it, and mourned for it with her, while she had often joined with her in
prayer that he might be brought to know