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264 The result of the interview was perfectly satisfactory to both parties; and as this was one of the occasions when all the sands of time are 'diamond sparks,' it is impossible to say when it would have come to a conclusion, had it not been for little Rebecca, who seemed to preside over the destinies of that day.

Her father had interpreted his conversation with Jane to his child, and had succeeded in rendering the object and the result of it level to her comprehension, and she had lavished her joy in loud exclamations and tender caresses; till finding she was no longer noticed, she had withdrawn to a window, and was amusing herself with gazing at the passengers in the street, when she suddenly turned to Jane, and raising the window at the same moment, she said, "Oh, there goes Mary to lecture, may I call her and tell her?"

At this moment the sweet child might have asked any thing without the chance of a refusal, and a ready assent was no sooner granted, than she screamed and beckoned to Mary, who immediately obeyed her summons.

Mary entered, and Rebecca closing the door after her, said, "I guess thee will not want to go to lecture to-day, Mary, for I have a most beautiful secret to tell thee, hold down thy ear, and promise never to tell as long as thy name is Mary Hull;" and then, unable any longer to subdue her voice to a whisper, she jumped up and clapped her hands, and shouted, "Joy, joy, joy! Mary,