juniors. Mr. Raymond never frowned upon innocent joyousness, and even
the boisterous little Harry was never afraid of his father; yet there
was about him a certain realization of the great truths he preached,
which checked any approach to levity in his presence, and impressed
even the most thoughtless; although, not tracing it to its real
source, they generally set it down simply to his "being a clergyman."
His children looked up to him with devoted affection and deep
reverence; even Stella could not help feeling that her uncle must be a
_very_ good man; and to Alick, who under all his nonsense had a strong
appreciation of practical religion, he was the embodiment of Christian
excellence.

"Well, Stella," said her uncle, turning kindly to his niece, "I hope
you had a pleasant afternoon. I suppose our little Sunday school looks
very small after the great city ones."

"We never go to Sunday school at home, uncle," said Stella, with one
of her winning smiles; "there are so many _common_ children."

"Oh, indeed!" exclaimed Alick, seizing the opportunity of putting down
Stella's airs. "Why don't you get up a select one, then, attended only
by young ladies of the best families?"

Stella coloured at the sarcastic tone, but Mr. Raymond only said
kindly, "Did you ever think, my dear child, how many of these poor
common children, as you call them, you will have to meet in heaven?"

It was certainly a new idea to Stella, and made her feel rather
uncomfortable; indeed she never cared much to think about heaven, of
which her ideas were the vaguest possible.