As they went to evening service, Alick did not omit to rally Stella on
her want of candour in leaving her uncle under the impression that she
had been at Sunday school that afternoon.

"Why, Alick!" she exclaimed in surprise, "I didn't say I had been at
Sunday school. If Uncle Raymond supposed so, it wasn't my fault."

"Only, you answered him as if his supposition was correct. I have
always understood that intentionally confirming a false impression was
at least the next thing to telling a story."

"Well, I'm sure Stella didn't think of that," interposed Lucy
good-naturedly, noticing the rising colour of vexation on Stella's
countenance.

"How tiresome they all are here!" thought Stella; "always finding out
harm in things. I'm sure it wasn't my business to tell Uncle William I
hadn't been at Sunday school. Sophy and Ada often tell the housemaid
to say they are not at home when they are, and don't think it any
harm. What would Alick say to that?"

By one of those coincidences which sometimes happen--sent, we may be
sure, in God's providence--Mr. Raymond took for his text that evening
the words, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."
The coincidence startled Lucy, and made her listen with more than
ordinary attention to her father's sermon, though, to do her justice,
she was not usually either sleepy or inattentive. Mr. Raymond began by
alluding to the "race set before us," which the apostle had spoken of
in the previous verse,--the race which all who will follow Christ must