you
please, and I shall be only too happy to place it myself on your head--
yes, the crown fairly won by an act of true and lofty moral courage."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

A FEW BACKWARD STEPS.

A year slipped rapidly by after the return of Julia Vivian to her home.
Her unhappy husband had not shown himself anywhere in the neighbourhood,
nor had he sent her a single letter. She herself gradually recovered
her once lively spirits, and scattered much brightness round her. Miss
Huntingdon would have retired, and left her to take the management of
her father's household, but she implored her not to do so; and as Mr
Huntingdon himself evidently preferred that his sister should keep her
usual position in the family, at any rate for the present, she
consented, hoping that the united influence of Amos and herself might be
the means, under God, of bringing Julia and Walter to take a decided
stand on the Lord's side.

So far, Walter was manifestly anxious to do what was right and to
support his elder brother in his endeavours to bring a holy peace into
the household. But his good intentions were often thwarted by his
natural self-esteem. As for Julia, she was by no means prepared to see
things in the same light that Amos did. Naturally high-spirited and
self-willed, her troubles had rather bent her down for a while than in
any degree permanently improved her character,--for there never was a
truer remark than that of an old writer when he says, "Circumstances do
not _make_ us what we are, they rather _show_ what we are." And now
that one of her heaviest burdens was gone, she was very reluctant to
curb her temper or give up her own will when to Amos it was her plain
duty to do so. Self was none the less her idol because much of the
gilding with which it had been adorned in happier days had been rudely
rasped from it. She wished to please Amos, but she wished to please
herself more. And whenever Amos's views and those of Walter did not
quite coincide, she always took side with the younger brother. Amos saw
this, of course, but he was willing to bide his time. One part of his
great object had been accomplished,--his sister had been restored to her
old home and to her father's heart.

Mr Huntingdon, of course, never alluded to the past, and took great
delight in his grandchildren, who were left pretty much to the care and
training of an excellent servant whom Amos had chosen for them by his
father's desire, and also t