the changed existence which she now had to lead. Helen
worshipped her two children, and thought, as home-bred women will, that
all the world was made for them, or to be considered after them. She
tended Laura with a watchfulness of affection which never left her. If
she had a headache, the widow was as alarmed as if there had never been
an aching head before in the world. She slept and woke, read and moved
under her mother's fond superintendence, which was now withdrawn from
her, along with the tender creature whose anxious heart would beat no
more. And painful moments of grief and depression no doubt Laura had,
when she stood in the great careless world alone. Nobody heeded her
griefs or her solitude. She was not quite the equal, in social rank, of
the lady whose companion she was, or of the friends and relatives of
the imperious, but kind old dowager. Some very likely bore her no
goodwill--some, perhaps, slighted her: it might have been that servants
were occasionally rude; their mistress certainly was often. Laura not
seldom found herself in family meetings, the confidence and familiarity
of which she felt were interrupted by her intrusion; and her
sensitiveness of course was wounded at the idea that she should give
or feel this annoyance. How many governesses are there in the world,
thought cheerful Laura,--how many ladies, whose necessities make
them slaves and companions by profession! What bad tempers and coarse
unkindness have not these to encounter? How infinitely better my lot is
with these really kind and affectionate people than that of thousands of
unprotected girls! It was with this cordial spirit that our young lady
adapted herself to her new position; and went in advance of her fortune
with a trustful smile.

Did you ever know a person who met Fortune in that way, whom the
goddess did not regard kindly? Are not even bad people won by a constant
cheerfulness and a pure and affectionate heart? When the babes in the
wood, in the ballad, looked up fondly and trustfully at those notorious
rogues whom their uncle had set to make away with the little folks,
we all know how one of the rascals relented, and made away with the
other--not having the heart to be unkind to so much innocence and
beauty. Oh, happy they who have that virgin loving trust and sweet
smiling confidence in the world, and fear no evil because they think
none! Miss Laura Bell was one of these fortunate persons; and besides
the gentle widow's l