EYE-SERVICE; OR,

 was seated before a table in the sitting-room, near the
 open door which looked upon the garden, and was
 searching among some papers in her desk, when her
 husband came in.
 "What are you rummaging there for, Lydia ?"
 Oh, Robert, you will laugh: but the day I left Mrs.
 Palmer's school, we-that is, the four girls in our room
 "-made a contract, or agreement (whatever you call
 it!) that we would, if possible, either meet each other
 or write on the sixteenth of December twenty years
 afterwards, and this is the day. I can scarcely believe
 the time has gone."
 And have you written ?"
 Yes; I wrote to Emily Grey by the last mail."
 Mr. Edwardes looked over his wife's shoulder at
 the sheet of paper, discoloured with time, and the
 writing in faded ink--
 "ST. MARY'S LODGE,
 December 16th, 1849.
 In proof of constant friendship, we promise, if
 possible, either to meet or write to each other twenty
 years hence, on the sixteenth of December, 1869.
 (Signed) SUSAN PARRY,
 LYDIA SNOWDON
 EMILY GREY,
 JULIA TAIT."
 Susan Parry ? Let me see; I think I have heard
of her."
 "Yes: dear Susan! She died the year before I
met you. She was the brightest girl, and yet apt to
think of melancholy things more than most girls; but
when once she woke up to the reality of life she
seemed brighter than ever, and far out-stripped us in
goodness. Her heart seemed so full of love to God
one "nuld see she felt she could never do enough; and