"No, my dear. Some do not feel the influence of religion till late in life, when their taste has been vitiated, their habits formed, and their tempers set; and though it will correct some of the evils which they may have contracted, yet it rarely happens that their character receives such an amount of refinement as it would have done, had they felt its transforming power at an earlier period." Just at this moment they were startled by a deep groan, that came from the wood near which they were standing, and on running to afford some assistance to the supposed sufferer, Miss Holmes beheld her facetious sister Emma, with a group of young friends, attempting to conceal themselves, but who burst out into loud laughter when they were discovered. "What's the matter, girls?" "Nothing, ladies; O nothing!" said Lucy Cooper, with a suppressed smile. "We were afraid, from the groan we heard, that some one had been hurt, or was suddenly taken ill." "It was only Emma, feigning illness, to disturb you in your grave musings." "O! Emma, I wonder how you could be so foolish! I am glad, however, that there is nothing the matter; and I do not regret having been disturbed, as it appears to have contributed to your mirth." "We have just been seeing Mrs. Kent," said Emma, "and she told us that you, and I suppose Miss Martin, had been there." "O what a lovely place!" exclaimed several voices. "How I should like to live in that beautiful cottage!" said a little girl; "I wish grandpapa would buy such a one for me." "The old lady," said another, "was looking over the Bible you gave her when we tapped at the door, and she rose and received us with as much grace and ease as though she had been a duchess. She appears to be a very contented, nice old woman, and seems to be very religious in her way. Is she not, Emma?" "Yes, she is." "Aye, she is at a good age to become religious, and she has nothing else to engage her attention. I should like to have another talk with her." "We shall be happy to see you, Lucy, at any time," said Miss Holmes; "and I think both you and Emma would be all the better for a few lessons of staidness and sobriety from Mrs. Kent." "O yes, I know I should; but as my propensity is to be religious, I must check it, or I shall get quite unhappy. It won't do for me to associate much with such devout people. I shall be sure to catch the infection, from my natural habit of imitation." Miss Holmes would have made some reply, but the appearance of her brothers, and some of the gentlemen from the house, put a stop to further conversation. "Come, ladies," one of them exclaimed, "where have you been rambling to all this time? We thought we had lost you. You have forgotten how late it is, and we must be off for town in an hour or two."