A Letter of Credit

on of a very passionate nature. Child, he called her in his thoughts, and yet he knew quite well that the time was not distant when Rotha

correct this tendency, not happy for the possessor, nor beneficent in its effects upon others? These are the sort of natures that when untrained and ungoverned, use upon occasion the dagger and the poison cup; or which even when not untrained are in danger, in certain cases of shipwreck, of going to pieces altogether. In danger at all times of unwise, inconsiderate acting; as when such a stream meets with resistance and breaks its bounds, spreading waste and desolation where it comes. Truly, he trusted that this little girl's future might be so sheltered and cared for, that no such peril might overtake h

progress. She sat absorbed in her work, her eyes intently going from her model to her paper and back again; nevertheless, every now and then one swift glance went in Mr. Digby's direction. No model, living or dead, equalled in her eyes the pleasantness of his face and figure. He caught one of those glances; quick, wistful, watchful, and meeting his eye this time, it softened with an inexplicable sort of content. The young man could have smiled, but that the look somehow gave him a touch of pain. He noticed Rotha more particularly, as she sat at her drawing. He noticed how she had changed for the better, even in the few weeks s

at work, Rot

ns, and to say always less than she felt, rather than more. Rotha never forg

t is very difficu

ha

anything

d. People that aim so high are n

better to

with himself has come to a dead sta

always dissatisfi

rowth and bring forth better fruit. And an

thoughtful look, and then

f a person who is doing his best. The fact that one is dissatisfied when not doing his bes

up, this time. Mr. Digby considered h

question you were once concerned about

, sir. I do n

hind

laying with her pencil abs

wish to be a

do. Sometimes I

about you, if that ques

rather something in his tone than in his

re you take hold at all; and you may tak

id not stop to analyse. "No," he said, "I will never fail you, Rotha; never voluntarily; but I have no command over my own life. I would like you to ha

ubdued way. "I wish I was on such a roc

really wish to be

ou are," she said gravely; "but th

ikely to b

thing, either," said R

d that you will not be left to your own wilfulness. I am afraid, though, that you may have to go through a bitte

uld it come?

you to seek the one Friend that cannot be l

r. Digby?" said Rotha, no

I do not know an

t be so forlorn

s you will n

pain, in the girl's face, that Mr. Digby's heart was melted. He stretched out his hand and took hers

ever do anything to bring it about, Rotha. Only, if it came by no doing of mine, I want you

. He met the look as steadily. On one side, a keen, searching, suspicious, fearful i

ied?" h

o, Mr. Digby?" she said

s proverbially an uncer

you make it more uncertai

provided with one or two bits of knowledge; a sort of note of th

d upon his face with an intentness which moved him, while yet at the s

hen people think that anything beneath the Creator has power

f the government of t

little life. You were afraid that being prepared for t

hole character to which it belonged. Delicately membered, and yet nervously and muscularly strong; kept in a perfection of care, and graceful as it was firm in movement; yet ready, she knew, to plunge itself into anything where human want or

believe m

Mr. D

t I am never going to leave you or l

en?" said Ro

ither, I promise you

and a faint smile broke

e when you might want help and comfort, that is all I am saying; and I want to give you one or two things

oose, and Rotha o

er of John, and read t

a di

u think the

nly she had found by experience that Mr. Digby never wou

to find words that quite suited her,-"he meant-something like- H

igby

nd never fail, nor change,

to stop being thirsty, because I sh

e of that 'well of water, springing up into everlasting life'? No, he meant only, that thirs

ances of comprehension, which

what is this living water

gion?" she said, after anot

mean the knowledge, the loving knowledge, of God,-you are right. Living water, in the Bible, constantly typi

sty, after they have got the

e was very sweet thi

," said he, turning his eyes upon Rotha, "are you s

like that?"

is himself. Now suppose the time come when you greatly

t know.

f praying; and there is just one way which the

but one way,

to make a prayer. But turn to the second chapter of P

, and made

? You un

Mr.

res, then shalt thou understand, and find.'-Y

es

hink of nothing else, until their object is gained. Mark those two p

g heart. Then turn to Hosea, sixth chapter and third verse. There you have an antidote against discouragement. You shall know, 'if you follow o

what they mea

ow the morning

, s

the sun rises whe

rning, if he didn'

by laughing. "Do you know why the sun rises?

eyes kindling with i

d received by her with an eagerness and a delight which shewed that knowledge to her was like what the magnet is to the iron. She forgot all about the

how the morning is

by," she answ

Even so: the Lord's coming is prepared and sure, for any one who persistentl

tha, "I see. I

truly in earnest and searching 'as for hid treasure,' will be

she was thinking more of the improvised planetarium

fourteenth of John and

imself gave

at loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Fat

the treasure, I think, Mr. Dig

fact that nobody who is not willing to do the

ong things so easy, an

are

d Rotha in surprise. "Am I

Rotha. Would you find it easy to do so

Digby,-im

that you loved Christ much better than you do me;

as the immediate state of things was concerned? As soon as possible! his judgment said. Rotha was already clinging to him with a devotion that would make the parting a hard business, even now; every week would make it harder. B

ruly horses coming at a run round a corner dashed into the little phaeton which held Mr. Digby and Rotha, and threw them both out. The phaet

nto it, Rotha took her place beside him, a

e for some distance; a

he first on

-does it h

aid forcing a smile. "Ro

t can I do,

g to be done, ti

d at last, Mr. Digby was assisted out of the phaeton, and with much difficulty into the house. He

ed Rotha, when the ass

a broken bon

s of the lounge; sweat stood on his brow, and th

is Mrs.

rk. I know she meant to go. What

can

well as anybody. Only

aty was made with mos

u cannot get it off, nor anybody, except with a knife. Rotha

arged, with difficulty and evident suffering, till the whole top of the boot was open; but the ankle and

e knife. "I cannot get at it. You'll have to send for

gby, ma

eyes. Rotha did not hold herself forbidden. She took the knife, and carefully, tenderly, and very skilfully, she manag

reat relief. Now the

r. She came staidly and steadily, and noiselessly. It was necessary to cut open also the stocking, to get that off, but this was an easier matter; and then Rotha's fi

ot

by," said the

'clock

en,

ve had

Will you have so

Rotha. Lay a wet cloth over the ankle and let

noiselessly arranged the table when the servant had set the tea things upon it She made the tea then; and had just cut a slice of bread and put it upon the toastin

she said. "What ar

re so striking, that the

ed ankle here-I'm

d I am going to do all that is necessary. I can do it as well as anybody; and I do not wa

ve got what he wants here, and I knows my business. My b

are not coming. Stand back! Take your things away. I will manage all that is done

g before the slight girl, as ma

in high offence. "You to tell me what I'm to do and not

the girl here, if you please. I heard her go up st

hat burst all bounds. But this was passion of another sort, and in that concentration of force which draws out a kind of spiritual electricity from its possessor. He saw how it had magnetized Mrs. Cord, and rendered her bulkiness passive. He had been intensely amused to see the large woman standing face to face with the slim girl, checked and indeed awed by the subtle lightning fire which darted from Rotha's eyes and seemed to play about her whole person. Mrs. Cord was fairly cowed, and gave way. And Rotha's bearing; instead of a poor, portionless little girl, she might have been a princess of th

made; seeing that Mr. Digby's eyes were open, she carefully renewed the salt water application to his ankle; poured out a cu

, Rotha?"

. Digby. I ho

entle as a dove, albeit f

opose to enact

me to be du

but he did not explain what he meant.-"That won't do. Call Mariann

things, Mr. Digby,

tha, and we will take our tea toget

at then?" asked Rotha

proper for the ladies of the fam

and except that he was a prisoner seemed just as usual. After tea, however, he lay still, with closed eyes again; and Rotha had no

ather slight build, as far as outline and contour were concerned; but the joints were well knit and supple, and all the muscles and sinews as if made of steel. Rather slow and easy, generally, in movement, he could shew the spring and power of a cat, when it was necessary; nature and training having done their best. He was habitually a grave person; the gravity was sweet, but very decided, and even when crossed by a smile it was not lost. So at least Rotha had always seen him. There were several reasons for this; one being the yet unhealed wound left by the death of his mother, to whom he had been devotedly attached, and another the sudden death a year or more ago of the lady he was to have married. The worl

him with a kind of worshipping admiration. So she sat and looked at him this evening, and thought she had never

Mrs. Cord, again w

n-can I do anythi

I have had all t

t fearfully, and now

an excellent thing for a sprain-if a sp

ord, let them make up a bed in the next ro

, and Rotha confirmed in h