118 Darknefs and Light.

Mamma! I fhall be lefs afraid than any of you,
for [cannot fee the horrid light that frightens you!”

As he finifhed, a gentle, prolonged ‘ Hufh !”
refounded through the room ; like the foothing,
quieting found of lullaby to an infant. And in
the midft of the beaming light, the form of the
long-forgotten Fairy Eudora appeared before the
eyes of the aftonifhed Madeline.

“ The Sea Caftle is not on Fire, you dear,
brave child,” cried the Fairy ; “and your Mother
has no caufe for fear. Iam a friend.”

“‘Coufin!”’ cried the bewildered Madeline,“ why
are you here?” and a terrible fufpicion flafhed
through her mind: and fhe pointed to her boy,
and added, trembling with agony—

“ Ts that your doing ?”

“< What if I fay it is, Coufin Madeline. There
is a long ftory about that, but we fhall have time
for it hereafter.—Dear little Coufin Roderick,”
purfued the Fairy, feating herfelf, and drawing
Roderick to her. ‘ You have been a good boy,
and got light out of darknefs. Mind you hold it
faft. You did not ufe the light well, though,
when you had it, Coufin Roderick.”

“© 7 know I didn’t,”’ was his anfwer.

‘¢ If you could live the light time over again,
you would be wifer, Roderick.”

“< T hope I fhould indeed,” he murmured fer-
vently ; “ but it is not likely I fhall ever fee the
light again.”’