anxiety on Selene's account she interrupted the weeping child saying:

"Hush, hush my child-Selene must not hear you. Come out with me and then
you can tell me all." Once outside the door Hannah put her arm round
Arsinoe drew her towards her, kissed her forehead, and said:

"Now speak and tell me every thing; think that I am your mother or your
sister. Poor Selene is still too weak to advise or help you. Take
courage. What happened to your poor father?"

"Struck by apoplexy, dead--dead!" wept the girl. Poor, dear little
orphan," said the widow in a husky voice and she clasped Arsinoe closely
in her arms. For some time she allowed the girl to weep silently on her
bosom; then she spoke:

"Give me your hand my daughter and tell me how it has all happened so
suddenly. Your father was quite well yesterday and now? Yes my girl
life is a grave matter, you have to learn it while you are still young.
I know you have six little brothers and sisters and perhaps you may soon
lack even the necessaries of life. But that is no disgrace; I am
certainly even poorer than you and yet, by God's help, I hope to be able
to advise you and perhaps even to assist you. Every thing that I can
possibly do shall be done, but first I must know how matters stand with
you and what you need."

There was so much kindness and consolation in the Christian's tones, so
much to revive hope that Arsinoe willingly complied with her demand and
began her story.

At first, to be sure, her pride shunned confessing how poor, how