Monica's Choice

passing down the drive, from her post of vantage in the great bay window. She wanted to think; at least, she wa

all the girls, and Olive, of course, in particular: and Monica realised how wonderfully attached she had become to school-life and doings, even in seven short weeks. No pleasant German lessons with kind little Fr?ulein Wespe, which she so much enjoyed. Nothing but day after day in one or other of t

for being the primary cause of the mishap. It is a wonder that she did not go one step farther, and credit Hero with originating the whole chapter of accidents, for it certainly was his bark that started the ball rolling. If Monica had heard any one else saying what she was think

gher life, where disobedience and its results would have no place. She thought of her father and his words to her in that almost forgotten letter, and unwonted tears rose to her

n appeared with the tea equipage. Mrs. Howell followed him in, and busied herself in pouring out a cup of the fragrant beverage, and placing it on a little table

hat would this haughty young maiden have said if she had called her "my dear?" So s

, in her off-hand way. "I'm sure I'm awful

t appear to mind the appellation, it seemed natural to be called "my dear" by a person of Mrs. Howell's description. "I like

"but just now it feels rather nice to be waited on," and she smiled up into the homely fac

ising the motherliness which underlay all the oddities and vulgarities, felt strangely drawn towards her commonplace hoste

ce, made poor Mrs. Howell realise her many deficiencies once again, and she relapsed into monosy

d have been avoided, if you had not disobeyed my commands." And she shook her head severely at the culprit, who showed no sign of contrition for her misdeeds. "Well, you will have plenty of ti

onica, and she tried to get up off the couch, but

ng tight to the velvet-covered arm which was offered for her to lean on. But to walk was absolutely impossible, the mere movement of the injured ankle (the pa

to confess, with white, quivering lips, j

his bluff way; "not trying to walk,

arriage, Bob?" his wife said, in a somewha

best plan will be for me to pick her up and ca

" began Mrs. Beaucham

said: "Oh!

: "It won't be the first time to-day, missy," and before Mrs. Beauchamp had had time to summon Barnes, Monica was comfortably

Howell," said Monica gratef

a pleasure to her to h

ee her some day, when my ank

anded Mrs. Beauchamp into the carriage, and shut the door after Ba

ndness," said Mrs. Beauchamp, in her freezingly polite way,

al "good evening"; the smile that overspread his rugged, good-tempered face was for

ered round the beautifully laid-out garden with his worthy

ossessed herself, felt it her duty to r

d; "I daresay the old lady means well enou

nd her husband repeated what Mo

rted Mrs. Howell; and then she a

, old

y was a bit m

is a lady, born and bred; and our girl ain

omehow," sighed her mother. "She's all for c

h a streak of luck. We were happier in the old days, Caroline, when we lived in the little house at Bermondsey, and went out marketing togeth

ve of money that makes all the mischief. I sometimes think, Bob," she added, a trifle hesitatingly,

no mirth in it. "'Do as you would be done by' is a good enough creed for me; and if everybody ac

est she said no more, and the subject dropped. But in the plain, homely woman's breast there was a deep, unsat

at disastrous day was being eagerly detailed by the other three girls at the Franklyns', whither Amethy

she and Mrs. Drury had been enjoying a little confidential chat about their children over a cup of tea; never dreaming but that they were all having a splendid time a

for some time neither of the ladies could get a very clear idea of what had happened; but e

id Mrs. Drury sympathetically; "it w

red the invalid; "h

ehemently, "shut up in that great, dull house f

sie nursed me," with an affectionate press of her mother's hand, at whose feet she

than all the school ones," said the invalid gently; "and by learning them pro

nd kissed her thin, white hand, a little comprehensive smile flickering about her mouth. Olive looked on, a trifle supe

nly when 'He teaches us of His ways' that we can 'walk in His paths.' I was thinking perhaps God h

don't all want to be goody-goodies like some people I know. There

ose pale face wore a grieved, sad expression,

if you find them dull and gloomy. They are not all so, I can assure you. Indeed there is no one so light-hearted, no life so sunshiny, as that of a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is just because we are so happy with Him as our Friend, as well as Teacher, that we want all those whom we know, and love, to become lear

ery word was distinctly audible. Amethyst looked up into her mother's face, and said, with real earnestness: "I do want to pass that examination, mumsie," and Mrs. Drury bent do

ling to put first things first. Her eyes sought Olive's, so that she might, if possible, read in them something of he

er need of a Saviour, she bade the invalid a tender farewell, with a whispered word of h

she had left, who appeared to her to be losing, rather than gaining strength, of the sorrow that the indecision of some of her children, with regard to spiritual things, caused the patient invalid. For a moment, a subtle temptation pr

her childish treble, and Mrs. Drury's eyes lost their far-away look as sh

-night, dearie, for he has gone to a big meeting at

hat day had been quite exciting ones to her. "Well, you will have to tell him then, mumsie, I s

her promise