"And to you, my dear young ladies, what can I say but to thank you, and leave you the blessing of a unworthy sinner. Be sure you will be in my prayers, and my thoughts, and perhaps we may meet again. Meantime, will you accept and read these books?" He opened a parcel which he carried, and presented us each with a pretty copy of the New Testament. Then once more bidding us farewell, he went his way, passing through the shop, where stood Mrs. Wilson, Lady Throckmorton's woman, selecting some ribbons for her mistress. As Mr. Wesley passed her, she gave vent to a modish oath, asking perdition to take her, if she could find anything fit to be seen. "Madam!" said Mr. Wesley. "I advise you to consider your words. It may be that perdition will overtake you, whether you find what you seek or not." Mrs. Wilson started with a kind of suppressed shriek, and then trying to put a bold face on it, she lifted her impudent black eyes to Mr. Wesley's face. But they fell again instantly before his, nor did she speak another word till he left the shop. [Illustration] CHAPTER XIII. NEWS AND CHANGES. I DO not believe any book was ever devoured with more earnest curiosity and attention, than those Mr. Wesley gave us. All our books of amusement were laid aside for the time, and though we still practised our music lessons, it was as a matter of duty. We were equally amazed at what we found, and what we did not find. Above all were we surprised, that so little was said about the Holy Virgin, and the invocation of the Saints and we began to think the Book must, after all, be a Protestant forgery, till a lucky discovery set us right. Mrs. Thorpe observed—as what did she not observe?—how closely we were occupied in our new studies, and one day she came up with a key in her hand. "I am thinking, young ladies, that since you are so taken up with the books Mr. Wesley gave you, you may like to compare them with the Bible used in your own church. I know my father had one among his books—ah yes! Here it is," and she took down a good-sized volume, and laid it on the table. "The books ought all to be taken down, and dusted oftener than they are!" she added. "But I do not like to trust Betsy, and Mrs. Crump and I have been too busy lately, to see to them." I at once offered to undertake the care of the books, and Mrs. Thorpe left me the key, saying she was sure there was nothing among them to do me any harm. They were not indeed likely to do me either harm or good, consisting as they did, mostly of books of divinity, volumes of sermons, and other heavy reading not likely to be attractive to a young person. I found among them, however, Mr. Evelyn's life of Mrs. Godolphin, and some other memoirs, which I read with pleasure and profit.