“Far too late to have kept up such a child as Elizabeth; we must not do it again,” said Miss Leaf, taking down the large Bible with which she was accustomed to conclude the day—­Ascott’s early hours at school and their own house-work making it difficult of mornings.  Very brief the reading was, sometimes not more than half a dozen verses, with no comment thereon; she thought the Word of God might safely be left to expound itself Being a very humble-minded woman, she did not feel qualified to lead long devotional “exercises,” and she disliked formal written prayers.  So she merely read the Bible to the family, and said after it the Lord’s Prayer.

But, constitutionally shy as Miss Leaf was to do even this in presence of a stranger cost her some effort; and it was only a sense of duty that made her say “yes” to Hilary’s suggestion, “I suppose we ought to call in Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth came.

“Sit down,” said her mistress:  and she sat down, staring uneasily round about her, as if wondering what was going to befall her next.  Very silent was the little parlor; so small, that it was almost filled up by its large square piano, its six cane-bottomed chairs, and one easy chair, in which sat Miss Leaf with the great Book in her lap.

“Can you read, Elizabeth?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Hilary, give her a bible.”

And so Elizabeth followed, guided by her not too clean finger, the words, read in that soft, low voice, somewhere out of the New Testament; words simple enough for the comprehension of a child or a heathen.  The “South Sea Islander,” as Ascott persisted in calling her, then, doing as the family did, turned round to kneel down; but in her confusion she knocked over a chair, causing Miss Leaf to wait a minute till reverent silence was restored.  Elizabeth knelt, with her eyes fixed on the wall:  it was a green paper, patterned with bunches of nuts.  How far she listened, or how much she understood, it was impossible to say; but her manner was decent and decorous.

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.”  Unconsciously Miss Leaf’s gentle voice rested on these words, so needed in the daily life of every human being, and especially of every family.  Was she the only one who thought of “poor Selina?”

They all rose from their knees, and Hilary out the Bible away.  The little servant “hung about,” apparently uncertain what was next to be done, or what was expected of her to do.  Hilary touched her sister.

“Yes,” said Miss Leaf. recollecting herself, and assuming the due authority, “it is quite time for all the family to be in bed.  Take care of your candle, and mind and be up at six tomorrow morning.”

This was addressed to the new maiden, who dropped a courtesy, and said, almost cheerfully, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Very well, Good night.  Elizabeth.”

And following Miss Leaf’s example, the other two, even Ascott, said civilly and kindly, “Good night, Elizabeth.”