but a bedstead covered with a hard mattress, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Here Theodosia spent many solitary hours; and here she found the benefit of that little store of religious knowledge and holy instruction which had been given her, and which now returned with force to her mind. Here she spent much time in prayer, as well as in deep meditation on her late evil conduct; and grace was given her to receive the present affliction as a proper and necessary chastisement, and indeed a light one when compared with the offences into which she had lately fallen. Her grief was at first bitter, and at times overwhelming; and she frequently remembered with peculiar anguish that evening, when she had seen her beloved parent arranging the little table and chairs for their work, together with her own ungrateful conduct on the occasion. "Oh! my mother! my mother!" she would then exclaim, "what would I now give for one hour of your sweet society!" Thus the Almighty brings his wayward children frequently to long after and desire those things, which during the triumph of passion and selfishness they had rejected with disdain.

After a few weeks, by the blessing of God, the vehemence of Theodosia's grief began to subside, while her will became from day to day more subdued to the will of her heavenly Father: and the first symptom of this blessed change was, that she found herself less occupied by her own proper feelings and sufferings, and more affectionately anxious for the peace of Blanche and Basil than for her own. Her heart was also drawn out more in prayer for the poor nuns, and for her sister, that God would have mercy upon them, and open their eyes to their eternal interests. And although she still refused to accommodate herself to that which she judged wrong in the religion of her companions, yet she shewed a willingness to meet them, and hold fellowship with them, where she could do so without offending her conscience. Her general manner became more courteous and gracious; she desired to be allowed to assist them in their work, shewing a backwardness to give offence when it could possibly be avoided and while she prayed that she might be enabled to say, "Thy will, O God, in all respects be done," she carefully watched and strove against the peculiar temptations which grow out of soli

tude, and particularly the self-complacent indulgence of evil thoughts and vain imaginations, that prevailing sin into which so many of the children of Adam are continually falling. It was her constant supplication. that she might have grace to overcome that love of self, through which thousands and tens of thousands have fallen down wounded, if not eternally lost. Theodosia had early been taught by her excellent instructress to know and fear this worst of enemies; and now the Holy Spirit poured his blessing silently and abundantly upon the Christian instructions of the faithful Blanche.

In the mean time, the young count returned from Paris, and, after several violent altercations with his father, was led by an insatiable desire of money, which his dissipated habits rendered necessary to him, to give up Theodosia whom he loved, and to marry Eleanor, who was at least perfectly indifferent to him: after which, the count with his whole family returned to Paris, leaving the chateau and his surrounding estates under the care of Basil. Blanche had made several attempts to see Theodosia, but could never succeed; neither could she succeed in getting a letter conveyed to her, although she had employed many means for that purpose: she was therefore obliged to content herself with offering up frequent and ardent prayers for the welfare of the child of her heart.

At length, when nearly a year had passed, and the anxious Blanche had begun to tremble at the measures which might be taken at the end of Theodosia's noviciate to compel her to take the veil, news was brought of the sudden death of the old count: shortly after which his son arrived at the chateau, unattended except by a few servants, for the purpose of inspecting his new possessions. Basil hastened to pay his duty to his young lord, and to receive his orders; nor did he fail to avail himself of this opportunity, very earnestly to request that Theodosia might be allowed to leave the convent and return to his house. The young count instantly acknowledged that he had no right to retain her in the convent against her will, neither indeed had he the smallest desire to make her unhappy-so that the joyful Basil only waited the count's departure, in order immediately to effect the deliverance of his adopted child.

The will of Theodosia had been brought into an entire subjection to the will of her heavenly Father, before the arrival of Basil and Blanche at the convent but as her mind attained a more heavenly frame and the inner man gained strength, the outer man had perceptibly decayed. Her health, though very gradually, had for some months been giving way; though, as it appeared, not so much from any outward cause, as from some internal disorder which probably had been gaining strength, though secretly, for several years, and which would assuredly under any circumstances have terminated her life in youth.

Basil and Blanche were much affected when they perceived the change in her appearance: yet the pious Blanche, as she received her lovely pale Theodosia once again to her maternal bosom, drew even from her altered appearance a new cause of gratitude to God, in allowing her to be brought back to her beloved home, to be there assisted, and consoled, during the remainder of her days, rather than left to die among strangers.

The delight of finding herself once again in her happy home, which she now earnestly prayed that she might never more be compelled to leave; of seeing herself surrounded by Blanche, by Basil, her old nurse, and her adopted brothers; of sitting once again in the oriel window, and listening to those sweet hymns of praise which the little family every evening offered to God; of hearing the pious conversation of the old pastor, the father of Blanche, and his grandson-all this for a time gave new life to Theodosia, and seemed to protract her days for a season. But after this first effect of joy had subsided, nature again languished, and it became evident to all that the time of her departure was at hand. Nevertheless the prospect was full of sweet hope to Theodosia herself, as well as of inexpressible comfort to Basil and his family, who perceiving in her a subdued frame of mind and a will conformed to that of God, could not but adore and praise the author of so glorious a work.

"I thank thee, O God," said Theodosia, some few hours before her death, "for so inestimable a proof of thy favour towards me, in subduing in me, by thy Holy Spirit, that selfish nature which I inherited from my

birth, and which would assuredly have brought me to utter destruction, hadst not thou, O heavenly Father, interfered in my behalf, and plucked me as a brand from the burning." She then broke forth into the praises of redeeming love, giving glory to God, who had graciously removed the sting of death, and made her, through the Lord Jesus Christ, even more than conqueror over that king of terrors.

Before her last agonies, Theodosia took a tender leave of Basil and Blanche, with all the friends of her childhood; particularly testifying her love and gratitude to Blanche, and humbly requesting her to forgive all her want of duty and affection, especially on one occasion which she specified. She died a few hours afterwards, professing an entire renunciation of self, as an unclean and abominable thing, and an absolute dependence on the merits of Christ to procure her sal

vation.

The sorrow of Basil and Blanche for their dear child was not without its sweets; and their remembrance of her from year to year became more delightful to them, as their hopes of a happy meeting in another world grew more bright and less distant.

Eleanor and her husband arrived at the chateau a few hours before the remains of the lovely Theodosia were committed to the grave. Eleanor's reflections on the subject were far from agreeable; and, from that time, she never heard the name of Theodosia, without a feeling of remorse, which she found it impossible to suppress. Her marriage, as might have been expected, was not a happy one, since her motives for entering into it were selfish and ambitious, and such as could by no means be supposed to ensure a blessing.

The lady of the manor here ceased to read: when the young ladies, as usual, began to make their remarks on the history, having first thanked her for the pleasure they had received from the hearing of it. Miss Louisa said, "If no young person can be said to be in a right state, till, like Theodosia in the convent, they are enabled to cry out with their whole hearts, O Lord, thy will be done;' in the midst of every earthly privation throwing self into the back-ground,

and attending chiefly to other people's feelings I fear that there are very few young people at all in a right state."

nor,

"It is not our business," replied the lady of the ma"to enquire into the state of the world in general as to their private feelings; thank God, we have none to answer for but ourselves, and such persons as are in some measure under our influence. But of this we may be very certain, that the less we are occupied by our own private feelings, and the less we indulge self in every possible way, the more our minds will be prepared for the reception of true religion, and the more likely shall we be to obtain happiness in the present world as well as in that which is to come. It is the will of man rising up in opposition to that of God, and seeking continually its own gratification, which renders him miserable, and separates him from his Maker. These desires are those sinful lusts of the flesh which we have undertaken to renounce, and which must be subdued before we can enter the kingdom of God. But," added the lady of the manor, our hours wear away, though I have not uttered half I have to say upon this subject. We must now, however, part for the present; and when we meet again, we will, if you please, renew the subject, which is, alas, a very copious one. I shall then endeavour to point out to you several ways in which these desires of the flesh commonly manifest themselves in what is called decent life, together with the many evils which might be avoided by a proper control early exercised over the will-that divine assistance being first earnestly sought which is so freely offered us in Scripture. I perhaps may also be able to find you another story somewhat applicable to the subject."

The whole company then thanked the lady of the manor for the trouble she took with them, and expressed a particular pleasure in hearing the stories she had to relate. The evening was as usual finished with

prayer.

A Prayer to be enabled to conform our Wills to that of

God.

"BLESSED and glorious Lord God Almighty, Crea