"That is a remarkable youth, Matilda," said Mr. Hamilton, as he closed the door. "I don't know what to make of him; brought up wholly in a cottage, without the advantages of refined society, he has more of the manners of a gentleman than either Harry Castleton or Charles Davenport. He must have had a remarkable mother, and the soul within must be of the noblest mould." "But really, brother, I don't think it well to encourage the intimacy between this youth and our Madeline. He is growing to be a man, and an attractive one to such a romantic child as yours. You really talked of her to-day to Roland as if he were her equal." "Really, Matilda, you are simply ridiculous; he is actually a plebeian, and Madeline patronizes him; it has rather amused me to see her independence." "I don't approve of the levelling system, Lewis Hamilton. Let each one keep his place in society; no good comes of these intimacies." "I am not afraid, Matilda. I think our Maddy has a good share of pride--enough to keep her from low associates." "I tell you, Lewis, that Roland Bruce has more influence over that proud and wayward child than any other living person,--a word from him, a look of reproof, I am told, had more power to check her impetuous nature, than all the teachers of Maple Lane school." "Well, Matilda, he has never taught her anything wrong; she is greatly improved since she knew the Bruce family." "You are certainly possessed, brother, with a spirit of contradiction; but I have borne my testimony,--you must have your own way. I have said all that I mean to." Roland's was rather a sad walk back to old Peter's cabin. He felt that he was rapidly approaching the years of manhood, and that Madeline would soon step over the sweet days of childhood, and enter the enchanted ground of young maidenhood. Then, the difference in their social position would raise the barrier over which he dare not step; and Madeline Hamilton and Roland Bruce would henceforth belong to different worlds. It was a hard thought; but Roland had seen enough, and known enough of worldly pride, to feel that this was so. Not with Madeline herself, for she was too much a child of nature for that; but he must not allow her to incur the displeasure of her father, but especially her aunt, by forgetting the broad gulf between them. On his next visit to Woodcliff, he was struck with something peculiar in the look of Effie's eyes. "Your eyes look weak, Effie. I fear that you sew too closely; is it not so?" "They do annoy me sometimes, Roland; they get so dim that I can hardly use them." "Do take care of them, sister; any disease of the eye is such a great calamity." "It would be a sore affliction to lose my sight, Roland; then indeed I should find it difficult to look upward." "Don't let us forget, Effie, that whatever befalls us, comes from our Father's hand, and must be a part of the training by which He means to fit us for the better world."