CHAPTER VII.

WHEN the important Wednesday arrived, Marie felt idly inclined to accompany her landlady-she felt a sort of refuge too, poor girl, in topics which described the rest, the joy, the love of another life-she had not naturally much of that morbid, religious feeling, which some excellent persons prize as a high tone of spirituality; and though fondly and earnestly looking to a future life, was more disposed to find religion in the performance of present duties, than in vague speculations as to future reward and punishment. But

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now! weighed as she had been in the balance of worldly estimation, and found so terribly wanting, where could she turn for sympathy, save to that Great Reader of the human heart, who alone can measure its strength and weakness, and alone can judge how much of pure ore and base alloy enters into its actuating motives, when its efforts seem noblest, or its abasement deepest?

Religious addresses, sermons, prayers, were a relief to Marie in her present state of mind; and, at all events, some tendency she could not quite account for, had she tried, inclined her to accompany her energetic hostess to the meeting.

By taking an omnibus, she contrived to reach 25, Tivoli Gardens, Mrs. Bushel's

residence, in tolerable time, and found the

household in an uproar.

'What do you think, my dear? there's that tiresome Tucker and Mr. Gaussin-of all days in the year-they have brought a young friend home to tea, and a rumpsteak, and, of course, how could I attend to it what with putting up the tea and sugar, and getting the children readyand that girl Jemima is so vexed, because she made sure of going out, that she's gone and burnt it to a cinder-not that she can cook much at the best of timesbut she can do a steak -and Tucker has been swearing awful. I think I had better send him a tract. But come what will, I can't disappoint Mr. Grumbleton, when he counts upon me.'

After some further scrambling and hurrying, the party got under weighMarie leading little Agnes.

The tea-meeting was held in the schoolroom of the chapel where Marie had first met the Bushel family, and was crowded to overflowing when they entered, and hot and unpleasant to no slight degree.

At the upper end was a sort of temporary dais or stage, which, at the commencement of the proceedings, contained only empty chairs.

"This way, mum,' said one of the chapel pew-openers to Mrs. Bushel, as panting and heated, her arm aching with the weight it sustained in the shape of a huge basket of buns, &c., fussed into the crowd, and with her party she was ushered to an

important and prominent table at the upper end of the room, near the platform, a tribute to her worth and gentility, which greatly delighted the excellent matron; her broad face beamed with satisfaction, as it also shone from other causes, as she took her place and gathered her flock around her.

'Sit opposite to me, my dear,' she said to Marie, and you will see beautiful!and there's nothing like seeing, as well as hearing. Augusta Jane, go, there's a good girl, and see if you can get some hot water-boiling, mind! Goodness, but it's hot! I wish some one would open that window!'

They can't, mar, don't you see it's a wentilator ?'