in her youth: she was to be slender and graceful; gentle as a dove;
vivacious, but in no wise opinionated, gracious and suave and versed in
all elegancies; cultured too, and of a rare, fine wit: so easy is it for
the heart to garnish its unfilled chambers, and picture forth the sort
of guest it will choose to entertain. Meanwhile, by doors which the
heart knows not of, quietly enters a guest of quite different presence,
takes up abode, is lodged and fed by angels, till grown a very monarch
in possession and control, it suddenly surprises the heart into an
absolute and unconditional allegiance; and this is like what the apostle
meant, when he said,--

"The kingdom of God cometh not by observation."

When Hetty said to Dr. Eben, one night, "I really think we must go home.
Sally seems perfectly well, and baby too: do you not think it will be
quite safe to take them back?" he gave an actual start, and colored.
Professionally, Dr. Eben was more ashamed of himself in that instant
than he had ever been in his life. He had absolutely forgotten, for many
days, that it was in the capacity of a physician that he was living on
this shore of the sea. They had been at "The Runs" now two months; and,
except in his weekly visits to Lonway Corners, he had hardly recollected
that he was a physician at all. The sea and the wind had been Sally's
real physicians, and the baby's; and as for the other two, in the happy
quartette, had they needed a physician? Perhaps; but no physician was
there for them.

"Certainly! certainly!" he stammered, "it will be safe;" and his face
grew redder and redder, as he spoke. Hetty looked at him in honest
amazement. She could put but one interpretation on his manner.