forced nor constrained, but beaming forth so sweetly, so naturally,
from those young disciples of Christ? Fanny felt that, however
deceitful the world's polite intercourse might be, _this_ was
holy:--and how can sin approach purity without fear and trembling? She
felt this mysterious fear. The reckless girl, whose highest boast had
always been that she feared nothing, now trembled, as in imagination
she changed places with Emma, and stood where she saw her
standing,--upon the brink of the tomb.

It was on this evening that Emma was summoned to her mother's room. She
found her mother sitting alone with Martha. There was no light there
save moonlight, and Emma was glad, for she knew that her own
countenance was deathly; and she had known that for weeks her mother
had watched her narrowly.

"Emma, my dear," said Mrs. Lindsay, "you understand the reason of my
coming to this place--that it was solely on your account."

"Yes, mamma," said Emma.

"I have invited some of the gayest of our young friends," continued
Mrs. Lindsay, "to keep us company; and all this because I wanted you to
make the most of being in the country. I have them here, my love, to
talk, to ride, to run, and walk with you. This was the advice of your
physician. He said that you would soon become healthy and happy,
provided his directions were faithfully followed: but they are not; and
how can we expect these favorable results? You neither ride nor walk
with suitable company; not that I care much about your present
associations. If they are conducive to health, that is sufficient: but
I have reason to think, dear, that you spend a great part of your time