'Did anything ever come right with uncle Bryan?' I fretfully asked. 'Think of the story he told us! I remember too well what you said when I asked if you would have me look on things as he does. You said it would take all the sweetness out of my life; and you were right. He has taken the sweetness out of it already.' I did not consider that it was the very refinement of cruelty to bring her own words in judgment against herself. On such occasions she would tremble from sheer helplessness; but with unwearied patience she would strengthen her soul, and strive, and strive, for ever with the same result. So wrapt was I in my own unhappiness, that it was only by fits and starts I gave a thought to hers; even that she was growing thinner and more sad, with this inward conflict of her affections, escaped me. Others saw it, but at that time the selfishness of my own grief made me blind. But there were bright spots in my life during these days, even in the midst of these unhappy differences, in every one of which Jessie was the central figure. All that seemed to me worth living for was centred in Jessie; and she was never absent from my mind. She passed nearly the whole of her time with the Wests now--naturally enough, finding so little comfort at home--and as I was not happy out of her society, all my leisure was spent with her. This circumstance was introduced unpremeditatedly one evening when Jessie and I were preparing to go out. My mother, to tempt us to stop at home, had promised some little delicacies for supper, and mentioned it incidentally, when Jessie said that she should not want any supper when she came home. 'I am sure to have supper with Josey West,' she said. 'You go there a great deal, Jessie,' remarked my mother, with an anxious look. 'I am happy there,' was Jessie's terse reply; 'but I don't want to take Chris away.' 'You don't want the sunflower to turn to the sun,' sneered uncle Bryan, with his usual amiability. 'I will not thank you for the compliment,' said Jessie, 'for it isn't meant for one. Chris,' she exclaimed, turning suddenly to me, 'is the sun the only bright thing in the heavens? Is not the moon as lovely, and are not the stars the loveliest of all?' Uncle Bryan took up the theme, continuing it to her disadvantage. 'But one loses sight of these loveliest things of all when the glare of the sun is in his eyes.' Jessie bit her lips. 'Am I to blame for going where my best friends are?' she asked. 'You go where your wishes take you. We are certainly not good enough for such a young lady as you.' 'Perhaps not,' said Jessie defiantly, as she left the room.