musement and get a sermon. Its
variegated hues give symbolic expression to the truth that 'behind the
clouds the sun is still shining.'"

"You might add that its existence destroys the pleasing idea that we
are always cheerful," Miss Pennington added, holding out the bag to
Alex.

"Am I to take something?" Alex asked; and putting her hand in, she
drew out a card. "'If we live truly, we shall see truly,'" she read.
"But it seems to me it ought to be the other way. If we could see
truly, we could live truly. It is such a puzzle. Do you think this is
true? And what does it mean to live truly?"

"You are an animated problem, Alex," Miss Sarah remarked.

"It is a little like something Uncle Landor said to me, that if we try
to do right and keep our hearts pure, we will hear a voice telling us
which way to go." Charlotte spoke shyly.

Marion took her hand in a soft clasp, and Norah gave her a friendly
smile. "Yes," she said, "that is it. I will tell you what it means to
me. It means that if I go straight on, doing each day the thing that
comes to me, not allowing myself to become entangled in fears for
to-morrow, that little by little the path will be made plain to me."

"I am afraid I want to _know_ where I am going. It might be such a
waste of time," said Alex.

"Its very simplicity makes it hard, but I believe it is the best way,"
Norah answered.

"Are we allowed to have only one helpful sentiment at a time?" asked
Miss Sarah.

"Certainly; one is as much as anybody can live up to at a time."

"It is not for lack of moral sentiments, however," Marion added. "The
supply is constantly renewed. They naturally gravitate to Norah."

"I wish," remarked Norah, "that a seamstress capable of making stocks
and collars would gravitate to me."

"Here is one at your side." Miss Sarah leaned over to examine her
work. "I think I could do it."

"She can do anything," said Alex, waking up from a brown study. "But
how would you find time, Miss Sarah?"

"If you could do only a few, it would be a help," the shopkeepers
cried in the same breath, and Norah began at once to explain what was
wanted, and unfold patterns.

Susanna carried away the tea things, and Alex joined Charlotte and
Marion, who were talking about James Mandeville and Mr. Goodman.

"He has won the old man's heart," Marion was saying. "They have been
walking together several times, and James Mandeville always returns
with a bag of what he calls _finger ladie