enjoy being taken care of yourself now. But, my little one! what is the matter?" Ellen had stopped, and, with her head resting on his shoulder, was sobbing violently. "Edward, don't!" she said, as soon as she could command herself; "I can't bear it! Think of the handsome allowance papa makes me, and how little of it has been well spent! And then, what was given away did not do a quarter of the good it might have done, because I did not go and give it myself, and kind words with it, which are far more comforting than food or money. And if you will believe me, Edward, extravagance has become such a habit with me, that though I resolved last quarter to be economical and save up something for the new church, I had hardly anything left at the end of it. It is true I did teach at the school a little, and visit a few people, but what is that compared to what I ought to have done?" By this time they had reached the gate, and Ellen, drying her tears, was soon talking almost merrily with the children, who ran up eagerly at the sight of their former teacher. Edward had forgotten the little Guernsey French he had once known, and stood by, glad to see his favourite sister so happy; but wondering what pleasure she could find in talking to a set of dirty little things like those. Captain Crawford called them dirty, because most officers in her Majesty's service, if they think on the subject at all, think rags and dirtiness necessary attendants on poor children; but if Captain Crawford had looked, he would have seen as clean and _neat_ a flock of little ones around his sister as the United Kingdom could produce. Just as they were going to return to the house a man passed by, and touched his hat to Miss Crawford in the somewhat off-hand manner which (we must confess it) our fellow-countrymen usually employ. Ellen stopped a moment to make some inquiries of him about his wife and children, and then turned home-wards, saying, as she took her brother's arm,-- "I dare say a good dinner would do that man's daughter a world of good; she is ill, and they are very poor: but then there is no way of sending it." "Where do they live?" asked Edward. "Oh, it is half-an-hour's walk: they live close to the beach." "I'll take it," said he; and added, by way of apology, "I should rather like a walk before dinner." A happy gleam passed over Ellen's face, but she only said,-- "Thank you, Edward," and gave him one very bright look, when he left her on her sofa and went to fetch some meat for the sick girl.