"But that is a small matter," said Miss Agnace severely. "He is wise, and he has authority, and he would know what to say to you. He would show you the truth." Frederica was by no means sure that she cared about having the truth shown to her by Mr Jerome St. Cyr, or that her father would be pleased to have him visit her. "I like you to teach me far better than I should like Mr Jerome St. Cyr," said Frederica, "because, I know you believe what you say; and besides, I can trust you. And I always feel uncomfortable with Mr Jerome." "You may trust Mr Jerome. He loves you dearly," said Miss Agnace, but she said no more at that time. She quite believed that Mr Jerome loved them, and sought their good. Was he not interested in all that took place among them? It never came into her thoughts that she was betraying confidence, or acting in any way unworthily, by telling him every incident of their daily life. She was not always aware how much, in answer to his apparently careless questioning, she made known; for there was little to tell--trifling details of their daily life, incidents that had no significance, except as they tended to show the tastes or tempers of the children of the house, which could only interest one who loved them, as she was sure he did. By-and-by he permitted her to see that he had a definite motive and plan in listening to all the details which seemed so trifling. He wished to gather from them some means of judging in what manner they might best be influenced in the right direction, should an opportunity to do so present itself at some future time. Miss Agnace strongly desired for these children and their mother, that they should be brought to a knowledge of the truth, and she assented when the priest told her that it was a blessed thing for her to be permitted to aid, even indirectly, in this good work. She did not doubt the excellence of his motives, or his right to claim her help, and she never thought of refusing obedience to his lightest word. But when Frederica said, "I can trust _you_," a painful sense of being not worthy of the girl's confidence came upon her for a moment. It was only for a moment, however; at least, it was only till she spoke to Father Jerome about it--then she believed, as he told her, that it was a temptation of Satan to hinder her from doing God's work, and she prayed and strove against it with success.