"God leads us by a way that we know not, Madeline; what a blessed thing it is to trust Him! When my mother first taught me these talismanic words, I did not know their power; but I have learned since what they mean. 'Looking aloft,' upward in all things, in sorrow, in perplexity, in adversity, in prosperity, for guidance, for blessing, for comfort; I can trust Him for everything now. When, with her weak and trembling voice, she bade me in that hour of affliction, 'Look aloft,' when my boyish heart sank within me at the prospect of being all alone, I did not know, Madeline, of the dear friend, Malcolm Graham, waiting for me in Scotland; nor did he know of me, but we were waiting for each other; for God knew, Madeline; and He knows and will guide all else that shall befall us;" and then he proceeded to relate some of the most important features of Malcolm's history. And thus the hours were beguiled until a late time for retiring. Aunt Matilda called, "Madeline, it is growing late;" and Roland, taking her arm, and placing it within his own, led her to the cabin-door, where he bade her "Good night." "You seem much interested in the conversation of that youth, Madeline; it is not very proper for a young lady to be sitting alone until so late an hour with a young man." Madeline's old spirit flushed her cheek, and tightened the proud lip; but she checked herself, as she replied, "Aunt Matilda, I am not a child now; my actions are free, I believe, of control, so long as I do nothing that I am ashamed of; I always was, and shall be, interested in the conversation of Roland Bruce, and shall consider myself at liberty to talk with him when I please." "O, I dare say, miss, that he is much more interesting than Lord N----; I have no patience with you, Madeline, to cast away a coronet for such a man as this." "Aunt Matilda, you must not use such language to me; Roland is to me a very dear friend, and nothing more." "You cannot say, Madeline, that he had nothing to do with your rejection of Lord N----." "I cannot be questioned, Aunt Matilda; but I will never slight, or cast aside a friend like Roland Bruce;" and Madeline sought her rest with a disturbed spirit, for she feared that she had spoken improperly to her aunt, and resolved to apologize next day. She was stirring early in the morning; and, with the old innocence of childhood, she went to her aunt's state-room, and said, "Aunty, let me in; I have something to say to you." Aunt Matilda could not resist the pleading voice, and opened the door. "I am sorry, dear aunt, for what I said last night; will you forgive little Mad-cap's hot speech? it is some of the old temper, aunty, that will get the mastery; when I can sit more humbly at Jesus' feet I shall be better, I hope." Aunt Matilda kissed the dear girl fondly, as of old, saying, "I forgive you, my dear; you are the same little coaxing witch that you were when a child; I wonder if you'll ever be anything else."