All the minister's creeds, and doctrines, and confessions of faith, which he had ever considered the foundations upon which Christian life was to be built, seemed, for a moment or two, useless lumber before the simple creed of this loving, pure-hearted maiden. To seek to disturb this state of innocence and obedience by moody polemics, he felt, instinctively, to be wrong. "Perhaps not," was his half abstracted reply; "perhaps not. Yes, yes; shun what is evil, and the Lord will adjoin the good." "Yes, yes; she _is_ a good girl, as her mother says," was frequently repeated by Uncle Archer during the day, when he would think of Grace. Evening came, and young and old began to gather in the parlours. The minister was introduced to one and another, as they arrived, and was much gratified with the respect and attention shown to him by all. Grace soon drew around him three or four of her young friends, who listened to what he had to say with an interest that gratified his feelings. Nothing had been said to Grace of her uncle's prejudice against dancing; she was, therefore, no little surprised to see the sudden change in his manner, when she said to a young lady in the group around him-- "Come! you must play some cotillions for us. We're going to have a dance." After going with the young lady to the piano, and opening it for her, Grace went back to her uncle, whose face she found deeply clouded. "A'n't you well, uncle?" she asked, affectionately. "Oh yes, child, I am well enough in body," was replied. "But something troubles you, uncle--what is it?" By this time a number of couples were on the floor, and at the moment, a young man came up to Grace, and said-- "Shall I have the pleasure of dancing with you this evening?" "Not in the first set," replied Grace; "but I will consider myself engaged for the second, unless you can find a more agreeable partner." "Do you dance, then?" asked Uncle Arthur, gravely, after the young man had turned away. "Dance?" Grace was in doubt whether she had clearly understood him. "Yes, dear." "Certainly I do, uncle. You don't think there is harm in dancing?" "I do, my child. And, I am sure that, after what you said about reading your Bible and trying to live for heaven, your admission greatly surprises me. Religion and dancing! How can they have an affinity?" "Good and evil can have no affinity," said Grace, in reply to this remark. "Evil, I have always understood to be in a purpose to do wrong. Now, I can dance with a good purpose; and, surely, then, dancing cannot be evil to me." "Dance with a good purpose! How can you do that, my dear?" "I have often danced with the sole end of contributing my share to the general enjoyment of a company." "Strange enjoyment!" sighed the old parson.