22 TURNS OF FORTUNE.
provoking suspense was enough to drive the
entire village demented.

Miss Bond remained away a month, and then
returned, bringing with her her niece, a girl of
about eight years old—her deceased sister’s
only child, Mabel Graham.

The following Sunday Sarah Bond went to
church, leading her young companion by the
hand; both were in deep mourning, and yet
the very least observant of the congregation
remarked, that they had never seen Miss Bond
look so happy as when, coming out after ser-
vice, and finding that the wind had changed to
the north-east, she took off her scarf in the
church porch, and put it round the neck of the
lovely girl, who strongly remonstrated against
the act. It was evident that Mabel had been
accustomed to have her own way; for when
she found her aunt was resolved her throat
should be protected, she turned round, and in
a moment tore the silk into halves. «Now,
dear aunt, neither of our throats will suffer,”
she exclaimed; while Sarah Bond did not
know whether she ought to combat her wilful-
hess or applaud the tender care of herself. It
was soon talked of throughout the village, how
wonderfully Sarah Bond was changed; how
cheerful and even gay she had become. In-
stead of avoiding society, how willingly, yet
how awkwardly, she entered into it; how
eagerly she sought to learn and to make her--