ot despair," he said, "I will not leave you to perish alone;
and I have hope that in the good providence of God, we shall all be
saved."

Gradually the screaming, sobbing, fainting, gave place to a dull
despairing waiting, waiting, with a trembling, sickening dread, for the
confirmation of their worst fears.

Rosie had fallen asleep upon a sofa with her head in her eldest sister's
lap, Vi on an ottoman beside them, tightly clasping a hand of each.

Elsie had her babe in her arms; he was sleeping sweetly, and laying her
head back, she closed her eyes while her thoughts flew to Ion, to the
husband and father who would perhaps learn to-morrow of the loss of all
his treasures.

Her heart bled for him, as she seemed to see him bowed down with
heart-breaking sorrow.

Then arose the question "what should the end bring to them--herself and
her beloved children?"

For herself she could say, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death; I will fear no evil; for thou art with me." Elsie, Vi and Eddie
she had good reasons to hope were true Christians; but Harold and
Herbert?--A pang shot through her heart. Good, obedient children though
they were, she yet knew not that they had ever experienced that new birth
without which none can enter heaven.

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God."

"Mamma, what is it?" Eddie asked, seeing her glance anxiously from side to
side.

"Your brothers! I do not see them. Where are they?"

"They went into their state-room a moment since;--right here, you know.
Shall I call them?"

"Yes, yes; I must speak to them."

They came hand in hand, in answer to Eddie's summons.

Herbert's eyes were full of tears, not of terror or grief; there seemed a
new happy light in each boyish face.

"Mamma," whispered Harold, putting his arm round her neck, his lips to her
ear, "we went away to be alone, Herbie and I; we knew what made you look
so sorry at us;--because you were afraid we didn't love Jesus; but we do,
mamma, and we went away to give ourselves to him; and we mean to be his
always, whether we live or die."

Glad tears rolled down her cheeks as she silently embraced first one, then
the other.

And so slowly the night wore away, a reign of terror for hours, while
every moment they were watching with despairing hearts for the smell of
fire or the bursting out of flames from the hold; their fears gave way to
a f