grew, from day to day, more cheerful and even lively in the companionship of a girl of her own age.  And Elsli, too, profited by the intercourse; she was of a yielding nature and easily took new impressions, and now that she passed all her time in refined society, she insensibly grew into its likeness; and her voice, her manners, her way of speaking, all seemed assimilated to those of a very different way of life from that to which she had been accustomed.  Was it that this new way was really more suited to her nature than the old?

The two girls studied together every day Elsli’s lessons for the morrow, greatly to the pleasure and advantage of both.  To Elsli especially, it was a new and delightful sensation to go to her class with a perfectly prepared lesson, and to hear the praises which the teacher daily bestowed upon her improvement; while Nora, whose invalidism had long cut her off from her books, found a fresh zest in resuming her studies with her eager friend.  After lessons came supper, and then the evening with its long talks.  These were generally about the beautiful country, to which Nora hoped soon to go, and where Elsli followed her in sympathetic thought.  One regret began to dim Nora’s satisfaction at the prospect; the thought that they couldn’t go together; and Elsli would say, sadly, “If you should go and leave me here alone, how could I bear it?”

At last September came, with its cool but sunny days.  One evening, as the children sat at the window looking across the meadows towards the setting sun; from a dark cloud that hung in the western sky, a great flood of shining light suddenly poured down across the valley, illuminating the trees, the grass, and the shrubs with its dazzling radiance.

“Look! look!” cried Nora, “that is the crystal stream! there it comes rolling toward me!  Oh, I wish I could go there now!  It is certainly the promised land, where we all shall be so happy.  Come nearer to me, Elsli.  I feel so weak I cannot sit up alone.”

Elsli sat close by her, and drew the tired head to rest upon her shoulder; and so the two friends sat, silently gazing at the wonderful sight, until at last the sun disappeared behind the woods, and slowly the mists of evening filled the valley, and all the glory was over.

But for Nora it had only just begun.  When her mother came in from the next room, she thought her little girl was asleep on Elsli’s shoulder.  She was asleep, indeed; but she would never awaken on earth.  Mrs. Stanhope took her in her arms, and burst into tears.

“Run, Elsli, for the doctor, as fast as you can!” cried she, and Elsli ran.  The doctor was not at home, but Mrs. Stein soon saw the truth, from Elsli’s answers to her many questions.

“Dear little Nora!” she said sadly.  “Her sufferings are over forever.  She has gone to heaven to be at rest.”

Elsli stood as if struck by lightning.

“Is she gone?  Is Nora really gone to heaven?” she exclaimed, and then she burst into tears, and trembled so that she could scarcely stand.