"Dear Sir, do you think he ever pays any attention to us, and such little things as a pleasure excursion?" "Yes, most certainly. Our Saviour says--'Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.'" "Then of course it is so, but it never struck me before. I always thought that God looked after other worlds and their inhabitants, and that he left us to our fate." "You forget the first petition in the Lord's Prayer--'_Our Father_, who art in heaven.' A kind father--and God is love--pays great attention to his children." "Exactly so, Sir, but it never struck me before." As she was sauntering up and down the house, leaning on the arm of Emma, bitterly deploring the continued descent of the rain, which precluded the hope of their getting out of doors, she broke in upon Miss Holmes, busily engaged in finishing a dress for a poor woman, who was daily expecting the birth of her firstborn. "I beg your pardon, Miss Holmes, for this act of intrusion. We are sauntering away dull time." "Walk in, and I will give you some employment." "Indeed, I am not fit for work. This is one of the dullest days of my life. I wish the rain was over and gone. Is it not a great misfortune that it should come to-day?" "Perhaps, my dear Miss Orme, it is sent by our heavenly Father to prevent some greater misfortune." "That's what your Papa has just been telling us. What a striking coincidence between his sentiments and yours! They are new ideas to me. Very devout and proper." "Sister is Papa's living echo," remarked Emma. "As you two idlers," said Miss Holmes, "have nothing to do but saunter away time, perhaps (addressing Miss Orme) you would have no objection to read, it may prove a little relief to your dulness." There were several books lying on the table, which she carelessly examined and closed, when Emma said, "Here is one which you have not seen." She took it, read the title--_An Inquiry into the Duties of the Female Sex_. "A learned dissertation, I have no doubt, on woman. I wonder what he says. He has, I see, a chapter on the employment of time; shall I read that, Miss Holmes?" "If you please."