and advise Fred, which was sure to bring on a breeze; but they were far
less vindictive, less aggravating than formerly. They were learning to
bear and forbear. Edith had the most to bear, for although Fred was
impressed by her kind and altered conduct, and could never forget the
generous act of sacrifice when she parted with Muff to gratify him, he
was as yet more actuated by impulse than principle, and nothing but
principle, Christian principle I mean, will enable us to be kind and
gentle, and unselfish _habitually_, not by fits and starts, but every
day.

Joe Murray was sitting at his door smoking his pipe, and watching his
little grandchildren as they played together (this time harmoniously) in
the garden. They were not building a grotto, they were dancing, and
jumping, and laughing, in the full merriment of good healthy happy
children. Emilie and Edith greeted Joe as an old friend, and Joe seemed
delighted to see them. The two children, who had been commissioned to
search for corallines, rushed up to Edith with a basket full of a
heterogeneous collection, and amongst a great deal of little value there
were some beautiful specimens of the very things Edith wanted. She
thanked the little Murrays sincerely, and then looked at Emilie. Should
she pay them? the look asked. It was evident the children had no idea of
such a thing, and felt fully repaid by Edith's pleasure. Edith only
wanted to know if it would take from that pleasure to receive money. She
had been learning of late to study what people liked, and wished to do
so now.

Emilie did not understand her look, and so Edith followed her own
course. "Thank you, oh, thank you," she said. "It was very kind of you
to collect me so many, they please me very much. I wish I knew of
something that you would like as well as I like these, and if I can, I