SUSAN GRAY. 39

things, Charlotte?” answered I. ‘‘ Can we love
God too much? or serve him too well? Is it
not said in the Bible, No man can serve two
masters: for either he will hate the one, and
love the other; or else ke will hold to the one,
and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God
and Mammon?” (Matt. vi. 24.)

Charlotte made no answer; and, for some
time, she sat quite silent. At last she said,
“Susan, when were you in town last?”

‘““The day before yesterday I fetched this
linen from Mrs. Nichols,” I answered. e

“< Did you see the Captain then?” she asked.

“What Captain?” I said: “1 know no
Captain.”

“Why, have you not heard of the Captain
who is just come to town? Where can you
have lived this last fortnight? He is come to
lodge at Mr. Smith’s, the mercer; and he is the
finest, handsomest, freest, pleasantest gentle-
man I ever saw in my life. He seems to regard
his money no more than the stones in the
streets; and you cannot think how condescende
ing and obliging he is. He smiles, and is so
gracious when one meets him any where, and
speaks so kindly.”

‘* And speaks so kindly!” I repeated. ‘“O!
Charlotte, what business could a gentleman, a
stranger too, have to speak to a poor girl in
your situation?”

She coloured: “A poor girl, indeed!” she
answered. ‘‘] like that, Susan; a poor girl,
truly! Iam no servant.”

‘* Perhaps not,” I answered; ‘ but you must