Thus would the sweet child’s native goodness sometimes break through the shell of selfishness that was crusting over it. Hagar, with one of her quick revulsions of feeling, burst into tears, and pressed the little one to her bosom, and Gusty, snatching her up in his arms, gleefully exclaimed while he ran around the room with her, “There, there, there! Hurrah! I knew it. I could have sworn my soul away upon the soundness of my little Rosebud! I knew there was not a really selfish drop of blood in little Rose’s tender heart!” Then returning and setting her down, he said, “Come, the rain has quite ceased, the sun is setting in golden glory, mother’s cake is done, and her tea is ready, and she is waiting for me, I know. Come, Rose shall go, too. I will carry her in my arms. And Hagar, you little savage, you can trip on before, and when I have got you both safe at the cottage, I can send word to Sophie, and keep you all night.” So saying he led the children from the attic. * * * * * Emily May was seated in the sober glory of her neat parlor, awaiting the return of Gusty. The round tea-table was covered with a white damask cloth, and graced by a little silver tea service. The plum cake stood in the centre. It was with surprise and pain that she received the children. Ignorant of the cause of Sophie’s neglect of them, she blamed her in her heart for it, and determined upon the next day to ride over, and use an old friend’s privilege of speaking to her upon the subject. The next day that visit was made, and Emily saw the wasted, sorrowing, patient look of her friend, the truth was partly guessed, and she proposed to take the children, and especially Hagar, under her own surveillance. To this proposition, Sophie tearfully and gratefully acceded. Encouraged by having gained this point, and incited by her love of children, she went a step further and proposed that both the children should be sent to the cottage as pupils, and share with Gusty the instructions of the young curate, her boarder. This plan was submitted to the decision of Mr. Withers, and having received his acquiescence, was immediately carried into effect. Soon the most favorable change was apparent in the children. Rosalia’s beauty bloomed like her type, the rose, refreshed by showers and sunbeams. Hagar’s black hair no longer hung rusty with exposure, in tangled elf locks over her shoulders, but was banded in satin-like folds. Their characters also seemed to undergo modification. Hagar retained all her individuality, her brave, free, wild spirit, her rather amazonian tastes, but lost the harshness and bitterness that made no part of it. Rosalia retained all her delicacy, her tenderness, yes, and sensuality, but lost the selfishness not native to her gentle character, or at least these things _seemed_ so. The evils growing in the children’s hearts were _cut down_; whether they were _uprooted_ or not is doubtful.