THE GOOD MISS KENDRICKS. 15

I long to hear the gurgling of the little brook there,
and to smell the cowslips: you will gather me some,
and I know how they look.”

Joanna could have cried for joy to hear her sister
speak thus, and went with her to the wood. They
sat down by the side of the little stream, the brightest
and clearest of little woodland streams, and listened
to the songs of the birds; and Joanna gathered
flowers, which she placed in the hands of her poor
blind sister,

‘You have often thought me selfish and unrea-
sonable,” said Dorothy, at length ; “I know you havo,
and so did Mr. Allen and Martha. I know I have
not been submissive,” said she, preventing her sister’s
interruption, “‘and let me speak, Joanna, now, for I
feel as if I could open my heart to you, and it will re-
lieve me of a great burden; for, though I have told you
many things, I have not told you all, and to-night I
feel as if I could.” Joanna put her arm round her
sister's waist, and Dorothy continued :—

“I was very happy, formerly, yery happy indeed ;
I wanted nothing that I did not possess; I had no
wish beyond my own sphere, and in that sphere I
possessed all that I desired, my uncle’s love and
yours. I was happy, too, in the consciousness of
being good-looking; I felt that I had the power of
pleasing ; looks of admiration met me and followed
me, and I was happy that it was so. Perhaps I
was vain. At that time, however, I should have
denied it, but now I think that perhaps I was so,
and God saw right to punish me; and oh, Joanna,
what a heavy punishment for so light an offence ! ”

“God is good,” said Joanna, with emotion, “and
his chastenings are only in love!”