you should remain in your room during the day. Think deeply of all that has passed, and of the misery you have endured, and pray earnestly to God for his forgiveness, and for strength to resist future temptation. Also you must give me your promise to give up all intimacy with Lydia Mildmay, and never to trust yourself alone with her again, unless in after years I give you leave to do so.” Matilda threw herself again into her mamma’s arms, but she could not speak. She then slowly left the room. “Selina,” she said, when soon after she was alone with her sister, “you can never know how unhappy I have been. I cannot tell it you. O it was so dreadful when mamma questioned me, and I dared not tell! And when I thought you all believed I was telling untruths, and that you could never love me again, I thought my heart would break. I did not know what was right and what was wrong, and for a long time I could not pray. But then I did, and God seemed to put it into my heart to send back the _etui_, and ask leave to tell; and I was a little happier after that. But when you took my hand in bed, and asked me again to tell, I grew worse again. I could not sleep; (only now and then a little;) my best time was when I stood under the tree, and saw the gardener’s boy running across the lawn with my letter, the air was so fresh, and the birds were singing, and the sun made every thing so beautiful. I felt quite happy then.” The tears were running down Selina’s cheeks. “I am making you sorry,” she continued; “I will not tell you any more. You know I am happy now, O so happy! and I will not forget this time, I am sure--no, I never, never will forget. Now go, dearest, to Leila, for I think mamma wishes me to be alone; but come in sometimes, with cousin Leila, and just kiss me and go away again.” CHAPTER XVII.