Rachel Gray

trange acquaintances?-above all, why did she mope, and want to be in the little back room? It was strange, and Mrs. Gray was not sure that it

ttle hoard collected for years, but to their owner priceless. She did not read them daily; she had not time; but when she was alone, she too

, and she took the papers to the kitche

u done!" cried Rachel, wh

ut it?" tartly

d tears Rachel shed,

he, her longing to go and see her father returned all the

pish," angrily exclaim

pleasantly, that Mrs. Gray was a little softened, she

her efforts to keep awake, she fell asleep over her task. When she awoke, daylight gleamed through the chinks of the shutters; it was morning. She opened the window in some alarm; but felt relieved to perceive that it was early yet. The street was silent; every window was closed; the sky, still free from smoke was calm and pure; there was a peace in this stillness, which moved the very heart of Rachel Gray. She

g her morning and evening prayers in one long and fervent petition of Hope and Love, she went back to her work,

as no uncommon thing for Rachel to get up early, and do the work, while her mother still slept; and, accordingly

t; for, in the course of the day, Mrs. Gray and

to-day, Miss!" said Mary

herself about the hous

d the tailor's thrush began to sing in its osier cage. "A day to make one happy," continued Rachel; and she smiled at her own thoughts; for on such a be

ou are alone?" she added, with a look of superiority; for she, too, seeing

of a child, "I am never afraid; but then, I am so much older than you. However, since you do not mind it, I

t mind," replied Mary,

me, in the broad daylight of a lazy summer afternoon. Rachel is neither nervous nor afraid-not, at least, of anything around her. On she goes, her heart full

the portraits and the books, and feels faint and hopele

empty pewter pot too, and a dirty public-house paper, from which we do not mean to have it inferred that Thomas Gray was given to i

ew old he grew chilly, when, suddenly, a dark shadow came between him and the light. He looked up, and saw a woman stan

m," he said,

; he looked at her,

ng?" he aske

courage a

s Rachel,"

id no

ray," she

steadily, but he

," she continued, i

d rather drily. "Come, you need not shake so

ooked at her for awhile, then resumed his work. Rachel did not speak-she literally cou

w's the old l

r," replied Rachel The name of father w

on? You 're a milliner

ork," said Rachel, thinking this, poor gi

g her parcel; and displaying the shirts to her father's vi

hem a car

he said, "I have doze

to his work, a m

od in Rac

, "but-but I did not kn

you might

the 'Rose' to send down a pint of half-and-half, will you? I dare say you'll have something before you go," he continued, addressing his daughter. "If

ic arrangements. She was almost disappointed to find everything so much more tidy than she could have imagined. She had hoped that he

d-half," said her f

out some in a glass, but she could

id her father, who

ling ready to cry, "I am neithe

father, "yet you have a l

ut for the shadow of kindness, for that which might one day become affection-she saw nothing but cold, hard, rooted indifference. Th

id, for her father she wou

Rachel,"

he did not ask her to come again. His farewell was as cold as had been his greeting. Rachel left him with a heart full to bursting

ose,' will you? You can't miss the 'Rose'-it'

She took the paper from his hand, t

hat she would-would not depart. In vain she said to herself-"It was just what I expected; of course, I could not think it would come all in a day. Besides, if it be

old lady scolded herself into a violent passion. Rachel received her reproaches with more of apathy than of her usual resignation. They were alone; Jane and Mary had retired to their room. Rachel sat by the table where the supper things were laid, h

ood-for-nothing creature," at length cried Mrs.

up in her step

been," she said deliberately.

ate, and sorrow-stricken, told the whole story. Rachel added nothin

mother," she

ight gliding out on the landing, through the half-open door. She pushed it, a

aid Rachel to Jane, "and seeing

nswered Jane. Rachel did not hee

to-night, Mar

well," pettish

how fondly loved was that peevish child; and she may be forgiven if she involuntaril

spered, "did you say y

f cours

d you pray for

t me sleep," crossly

s tenderness and pathos in her voice; "Mary, I

aid I

do not love him as m

p in the firm conviction that children were domesti

you must try," very

that you wil

; but Mary, wearied with the d

y back aches," s

hen she don't want to speak

ry, reddening, and speaking very fast. "I don't

talk, your back ached

e laughed triumphantly. Rachel loo

r. Mary, God did not give us tears-and they are a great gif

that morning, but still longer did she pray that night. For alas!-who knows it not-the wings of Hope wo