Lottie to learn the violin and heaps of things-and then-oh! I'll keep you busy, you may be quite sure."

"That's what I like to be," Betty answered smiling. "And you're rather inclined to make me forget,"—her lips trembling a little," that I am only a governess, dear Mrs. Arrowsmith.” "Why in the name of goodness should you remember it ?" "I thought," with a merry twinkle in her blue eyes," that it was the right thing to do."

"Then, you thought wrong. You are my friend-my dear little friend, first, Elizabeth. My governess-well, because in any other way, you would not stay with me. here?"

You are happy

Happy? Oh yes." Betty clasped her hands, and looked with grateful eyes at the kind little woman. "It's like my home -a second home-for, of course, Docwra must always come first."

"Of course-though Rathkieran is really more your home than ours. We are only usurpers, Betty."

Betty laughed merrily. "To the tune of a large yearly sum, that helps Uncle John to live in comfort, in London. I don't call that usurping. And then, I never had, and never shall have any right to Rathkieran, Mrs. Arrowsmith."

"Still you're an O'Neill. It's the home of your ancestors." "So it is, and I love the old place, and it's a great joy to me to be here. I can never be grateful enough to God and you, Mrs. Arrowsmith. Things have been so much easier for me than for my cousins."

"But Maura is doing well in her hospital?"

Yes, poor girl, she is very plucky. But it's a hard, wearing life, and then Cecily has found nothing to do yet."

"Oh, don't fret about Cecily. She'll be Mrs. Jim Fitzgerald one of these days."

Elizabeth started, and her eyes filled with tears.

"

I hope not. He's very poor. And oh! Mrs. Arrowsmith, she doesn't love him."

"

People sometimes get on without love," Mrs. Arrowsmith said lightly. "But without money-well, to my mind, marriage would surely be a failure.”

Elizabeth drew in her breath, and looked at her aghast.

"And to my mind," she said solemnly, "love is the one

thing necessary. Other things may come. But, oh! Mrs. Arrowsmith, how could one be a good wife to a man one didn't love?"

"Dear me how solemn and earnest you are. But, remember, child, that' When poverty comes in at the door, love goes out by the window.' So if you take my advice, Betty, you'll not marry for love only."

"I'll not marry at all," Elizabeth answered gravely. "I made up my mind to that long ago."

"You funny child! But do not, I pray, thus early forswear matrimony," laughed Mrs. Arrowsmith. "A pretty girl like you will have plenty of offers."

Elizabeth blushed, and laughed gaily,

"I don't think so. A girl without fortune is a cart without wheels, remember, and I'm very happy as I am. Kathleen and I both agree on these points."

"Oh, you'll both change your minds. But, Betty, we must get your cousin Kathleen over often during our Christmas festivities. She's a charming girl."

But, dear Mrs. Arrow-
She," raising her eyes

"Indeed she is, and very lovely. smith, you'll ask Cecily too, I hope. appealingly, "is really nice, when you know her."

"Is she? Somehow I never took to Miss Cecily. But I'll invite her to our festivities, for your sake."

Elizabeth's sweet face grew bright.

"I don't think there ever was anyone so kind as you, dear Mrs. Arrowsmith."

"'Tis easy to be kind to you, Betty, so I deserve no praise. How is your Uncle Michael, to-day?"

"Much the same, thank you. But oh! Mrs. Arrowsmith, his troubles have crushed him. He will never be quite himself again."

"Don't say that, dear. Things may change. Please God, there are bright days in store for you all, yet."

Elizabeth smiled faintly.

"I'm afraid they're a long way off. It will take a great deal to make Docwra what it used to be."

Supposing your Uncle Terence turns up, and make you an heiress [with a little laugh]. What then, Miss Betty?" The warm colour flew over Betty's fair face.

"Don't chaff me about that, please, Mrs. Arrowsmith," she said in a low voice. "I can't bear it."

"You dear sensitive, warm-hearted little girl! I won't. And now, Elizabeth," patting her hand, "you'll have to help me to entertain these people. I look to you to make things lively in the evenings."

Oh! Mrs. Arrowsmith, I feel frightened at the thoughts of such a thing."

"

"That feeling will pass off," Mrs. Arrowsmith said encouragingly. You must take poor Flora's place. Be as my eldest daughter, Betty."

"I'll try," Elizabeth said with emotion. "But you must tell me what I ought to do."

"Oh! I'll tell you; and you'll drop into it all, quite naturally."

"I'm afraid not," Elizabeth's spirits sank. The thought of facing strangers terrified her, and she wished sincerely, that she could slip away back to Docwra, and send Kathleen or Cecily to take her place at Rathkieran during the approaching festivities.

"I like a quiet life best," she told herself, stealing up to her own room, when Mrs. Arrowsmith left her, with plenty of time for my music and my books." And taking her beloved violin from its case, she was soon lost in the wonders of the "Moonlight Sonata."

What is

"Dear Uncle Terence," she thought presently, gazing at his photograph in a dreamy way. Where is he? he doing? Alas! he has not prospered, I fear. And yet-he will come home; and if he does-well, there may be better things in store for us all. Meanwhile I must do all I can to please dear Mrs. Arrowsmith. Few girls have such a good friend as she is to me. It behoves me to show her how grateful I am."

During the next few days Rathkieran was turned topsy turvey in the excitement of expectation and preparation. Nothing was talked of but the arriving guests, and the wonderful things that were to be done during their stay in the quiet old country-house. The children were uproarious, and ran hither and thither, fancying they were giving invaluable help in the arrangement of the rooms, whilst in reality they were only

getting in every one's way. Seeing this, Elizabeth suggested taking them to the school-room for lessons, but Mrs. Arrowsmith laughed at the idea.

"You must not ask impossibilities, Betty," she said. "Neither you nor those poor mites are in a fit state for study. For even you are as excited as can be. Now, confess, aren't you? And excitement suits you. I never saw you look so charming. I wonder if Charles will think you changed. 'Tis two good years since he saw you last. Keep that lovely rose tint in your cheeks, and he'll think you lovely-more lovely, perhaps, than this beautiful Miss Bindon that Punch says he admires so much."

The rose tints in Elizabeth's sweet face deepened into bright crimson, and she quickly busied herself with the holly and ivy she was stringing into wreaths for the ballroom. CLARA MULHOLLAND.

(To be continued.)

NO ROOM

No room for Him who poised the suns in space.
A village inn rejects both Him and thee.
Fare further, weary one, and thou wilt see
A hollow in yon rocks, a sheltered place-
Oh! haste thee, for the night draws on apace,
And ere the dawn the olden prophecy
Will be fulfilled; thou wilt a Mother be,
And Virgin still. O Mary full of grace!

And He, thy Babe, upon the straw will lie;
And kindly beasts with fragrant breath the air
Will warm, nor grudge Him shelter from the cold.
But I, with heart all chill and bare, shall I
Contemn this haven He hath found, or dare
Cast stone to smite the Bethlehemites of old?

MARY CORBETT.

ALTER CHRISTUS

DOTH God unto His altar beckon thee?
Pause ere an answer pass thy human lips,
Reflect, frail creature, thou art called to be
Another Christ.

Thou shalt bid sinners go and sin no more;
Thou shalt be judge, but only to forgive;
Thou shalt tread Satan down, as did before
Another Christ.

This is My Body. Art thou God to claim
The Saviour's body for thy special care?
Nay, but God maketh thee, more than in name,
Another Christ.

He that hath made thee will to thee submit,
Yielding Christ's body to thy human will.
Then make that will, priest, such as would befit
Another Christ.

Thou shalt go through the world as Jesus went
Calling to thee the laden and the sad ;

Let every word, let every look present
Another Christ.

The Jews of old in hatred raised the cry
"Oh, crucify Him, crucify the Man!"

The Church, in love, bids thee, priest, crucify
Another Christ.

God calleth thee! Thy Calvary is nigh:
Art thou prepared, forgetful of thy self,
For souls to suffer, weep, pray, love and die,

Another Christ?

T. G. D.