44 TURNS OF FORTUNE.

the couch of her poor aunt; one day suffering
the most acute anxiety if the symptoms became
worse than usual; the next full of hope as they
abated. Did I say that one day after another
this was the case? I should have written it,
one hour after another; for truly, at times she
fluctuated so considerably, that no one less
hopeful than Mabel could have continued faith-
ful to hope. As Sarah Bond gained strength,
she began to question her as to the past. Ma-
bel spoke cautiously; but, unused to any spe-
cies of dissimulation, could not conceal the
fact, that the old furniture, so valued by her
uncle, and bequeathed with a conditional bless-
ing, was gone—sold! This had a most unhap-
py effect on the mind of Sarah Bond. She felt
as if her father’s curse was upon her. She
dared not trust herself to speak upon the sub-
ject. When the good rector (Mr. Goulding)
alluded to the sale, and attempted to enter into
particulars, or give an account of the affairs he
had so kindly and so ably managed, she ad-
jured him in so solemn amanner never to speak’
of the past, if he wished her to retain her rea-
son, that he, unconscious of the motive, and
believing it arose entirely from regret at her
changed fortunes, avoided it as much as she
could desire; and thus she had no opportunity
of knowing how much had been saved by the
benevolence of a few kind persons. Sarah
Bond fell into the yery common error of im-