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 part of the garden, as they received the greatest share of attention, and were also associated with the lovely spirit whose unseen presence consecrated them to an eternal beauty. This was a place seldom frequented by Ernest in the glare of open day,—he liked better the calm, still hour of twilight, to hold converse with those scenes which even now seemed to inspire his highest day dreams with something like the prophetic visions of old, when the lion and the lamb shall lie down together, and a little child shall lead them. In his mind's eye he realized somewhat of this ideal in the beneficent results of the institution to establish which they were all devoting their energies, and Milly seemed to him just the one to lead in the work.

She was a little surprised at being accosted by him in that spot, where she had never met him before. After a few casual remarks he introduced the subject, at the mention of which her face kindled with a glow of enthusiasm, and he saw at once that she comprehended more than the more outer details. At another time she might have shrunk from the thought of being herself installed in a station of so much importance, through fear of her incapacity to meet its responsibilities, but now her soul responded with a grateful amen for the opening of the prison door, as with a prophet's glance her intuitive perceptions foreshadowed realities sublimer than any sketch of tongue or pen.

Without any hesitation she agreed to accept the position he offered, if such a course should meet the approbation of all parties concerned, which condition