And after this Helen quite withdrew herself from the domestic cares of
the house to attend exclusively to her toilette--her music--her walks
and drives with Jerrold, and visits to his mother. Mr. Stillinghast
seemed not to observe what was going on, and May, anxious to shield her
from his displeasure, which she supposed would be excited by this
neglect, went on in her old routine, as if nothing had ever occurred to
interrupt it. Thus weeks rolled by, and Helen was the affianced wife
of Walter Jerrold; forgetful of the demands of religion, and turning a
deaf ear to the whispers of conscience, and a cold, proud eye on the
practical works of faith; and scornfully hushing May's expostulations,
she thought only of the realization of her ambitious and worldly
dreams, and plunged into the gayeties of life with a zest worthy of a
better cause.

May, all this time, was cheerfully climbing step by step; sometimes
fainting--sometimes stumbling--sometimes falling, but ever rising with
renewed strength up the steep and narrow way of Calvary. Her uncle's
distrustful manner--his harsh language--his angry looks, with Helen's
apparent apostasy, and haughty demeanor, were trials which required the
constant replenishing of grace in her soul, to bear with patience. But
Father Fabian bid her to be of good cheer; the divine sacraments of the
Church strengthened and consoled her by their sweet and mighty power;
and like waters returning cool and purified to their source, or dews
gently falling to the earth from which they had risen, in blessing and
refreshment, her daily visits to old Mabel, so full of charity and
good-will, filled her with indescribable happiness.

Mrs. Jerrold insisted on furnishing Helen's _trousseau_, while she was
occupied every day in selecting expensive furniture for a house her