As for Frederica, she said less than she used to do about being "grown up" and "sensible," but she was more thoughtful and quiet than she had ever been before; and, with the advice and assistance of Miss Robina, laid out for herself a regular course of reading, which she pursued with praiseworthy diligence, considering all things. The reading of the Bible with her mother and Selina was commenced again, and nothing was permitted to interfere with it. She began also to take her little brothers regularly to church, and to listen and try to understand all that she heard there. She did not get discouraged, though there was not much to interest or to instruct in the sermons she often heard. There was little hope of a happy summer to them, as the days went on. The heat which last year seemed to bring healing to Mrs Vane, brought this year weakness and nervous prostration painful to see. And something even worse than these came with them, to make the days and nights terrible to her--the fear of death,--death, which she knew to be drawing near. It had come to her in former illnesses, but never as it came now. Mr Jerome. St. Cyr never spoke many words to her in private, but they had been strong words that she could not forget, about her godless marriage and her godless life, which had brought on her, he said, the double curse of ill-health and neglect, and which must end in still deeper misery. She could not forget them, and they woke terrible fears for the future. She told her fears to her children, hoping that they might chase them away as they had chased so many troubles of hers in past years, with playful or loving words, but they knew not what to say, for they too were afraid. "God is good, and Christ died for us," repeated Selina many times. "Surely that is enough, mama." They read the Testament daily to her still, and Frederica searched it carefully for her sake, bringing to her such sweet words as these: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? The sting of Death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." The clergyman of the church they attended came to see her, and read prayers solemnly and tenderly, and answered the appeal of her anxious eyes with vague words about God's goodness and compassion, and how He would save all who came to Him. But his words did not comfort her. "How can I come to Him? I do not know the way." "Mama, Jesus is the way--He says it," said Selina, who never seemed to forget the words she heard.