"`If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father.' Never wait to confess sin and be forgiven. "In all that is not wrong, put the comfort of others before your own. "Think it possible you may be mistaken. "Test everything by the Word of God. "Remember that the world passeth away." Flora was the first of us to speak. "Thank you, indeed, Aunt Kezia for taking so much trouble for us. If we govern ourselves by your rules, we can hardly go far wrong." I tried to say something of the same sort, but I am afraid I bungled it. "I cannot tell when we shall meet again, my lassies," saith my Aunt Kezia. "Only it seems likely to be some time first. Of course, if things fall out ill, and Mrs Desborough counts it best to remove from London, or to send you elsewhere, you must be ruled by her, as you cannot refer to your father. Remember, Cary--your grandmother and uncle will stand to you in place of father and mother while you are with them. Your father sends you to them, and puts his authority into their hands. Don't go to think you know better--girls so often do. A little humility and obedience won't hurt you, and you need not be afraid there will ever be too much of them in this world." "But, Aunt!" said I, in some alarm, "suppose Grandmamma tells me to do something which I know you would not allow?" "Follow your rule, Cary: set the Lord always before you. If it is anything which He would not allow, then you are justified in standing out. Not otherwise." "But how am I to know, Aunt?" It was a foolish question of mine, for I might have known what my Aunt Kezia would say. "What do you think the Bible was made for, Cary?" "But, Aunt, I can't go and read through the Bible every time Grandmamma gives me an order." "You must do that first, my dear. The Bible won't jump down your throat, that is certain. You must be ready beforehand. You will learn experience, children, as the time goes on--ay, whether you choose or no. But there are two sorts of experience--sweet and bitter: and `they that will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock.' Be ruled by the rudder, lassies. It is the wisest plan." My Aunt Kezia said more, but it does not come back to me as that does. And the next morning we said good-bye, and went out into the wide world. I cannot profess to tell the whole of our journey. We slept the first night at Kendal--and a cold bleak journey it was, by Shap Fells--the second at Bolton, the third at Bakewell, the fourth at Leicester, the fifth at Bedford, and on the Saturday evening we reached London. I believe Annas was very much diverted at some of my speeches during the journey. When I cried, after we had passed Bolton, and were going over a moor, that I did not know there was heather in the South, she said, "You have been a very short time in coming to the South, Cary." "What do you mean, Annas?" said I. "Only that a Midland man would think we were still in the North," said she.