Upon Armstrong’s return from the end of the walk, Felix delivered himself of his errand, and his master directed his steps towards the house.

He found his daughter with the breakfast apparatus before her, and looking as fresh and charming as the morning itself.

“You have shown better taste than I, father,” she said.  “You have been enjoying the beauty of nature, while I was lying on a downy pillow.”

“Sleep is sweet to the young and healthy,” said Armstrong, “and my selfishness kept you up so late last night, that I do not wonder you are not as early as usual.”

“My late hours have done me no harm.  But when shall we take the drive you promised me?”

“At any time that is most agreeable to yourself.”

“If you refer it to me, I shall not long hesitate.”

“It will make no difference with me.  Choose, yourself, my darling.”

“Then, why not this morning, while the air is fresh with the dews of night, and before the roads are filled with dust?  I anticipate a great deal of pleasure, for it seems to me some mystery hangs about this drive, and that you are preparing for me a delightful surprise.”

Armstrong started, and an expression of pain gathered over his face.

“That was earlier than I intended,” he said, “but a few hours can make no difference.”

“If it is not perfectly convenient; if you have another engagement, put it off later.  It was only the loveliness of the morning which made me select it.”

“I have no other engagement so important,” said Armstrong; “it is of great importance to us both:  I ought to gratify any request you can make, but”—­

“Why hesitate, dear father, to make your own choice without regard to a chance expression of mine?  I really have no preference contrary to yours.”

“There is no such thing as chance.  We will go this morning, my darling,” said Armstrong, with decision.  “I have observed, there are some persons controlled by a heavenly influence, which prevents their erring.  I have felt it sometimes, and, I think I feel it now.  You were always right from infancy.  The influence upon us both is the same, and, I am convinced, we should follow it.”

Accordingly, shortly after breakfast, Faith and her father entered the coach, which was driven by Felix.  The route they passed over was the same taken by the Judge and Armstrong, and we are, therefore, relieved from the necessity of a description.  Besides, we are now too much interested in Armstrong, to allow us to pay much attention to the beauties of external nature.  Of such infinite worth is a human being; so incalculably grand and precious those faculties and powers which connect him with his magnificent source; so fraught with mystery the discipline he endures, a mystery in which each one endowed with the same nature, has part, that the natural and the visible shrink into insignificance in comparison with the unseen and spiritual.  Of what consequence is a world of insensate matter, when brought into competition with the immortal spirit?