They walked very slowly, and neither spoke for a few moments, till Ellen said, in rather a hurried tone, “I was wrong just now when I told you I never wished for anything; there is one thing I want very much, and which you can never give me.”

“What is it?” asked her brother.

“To be able to live over again the twenty years of health which have just passed from me, and to have again all the money I spent in that time.”

“Why, my dear Ellen,” said Captain Crawford gaily, “you are the last person in the world to say anything of the sort.  I am sure the greatest pleasure of your days of health was to take puddings and sixpences to old women; and if that is not a satisfactory way of spending one’s time and money, I don’t know what is.  But really, Ellen,” he said, more seriously, as he saw her grave face, “I do not see what reason you have to blame yourself, after such a life as yours has been.  I should have thought the recollection of it would now have been your greatest comfort; and that, after taking care of others for so long, you might enjoy being taken care of yourself now.  But, my little one! what is the matter?”

Ellen had stopped, and, with her head resting on his shoulder, was sobbing violently.

“Edward, don’t!” she said, as soon as she could command herself; “I can’t bear it!  Think of the handsome allowance papa makes me, and how little of it has been well spent!  And then, what was given away did not do a quarter of the good it might have done, because I did not go and give it myself, and kind words with it, which are far more comforting than food or money.  And if you will believe me, Edward, extravagance has become such a habit with me, that though I resolved last quarter to be economical and save up something for the new church, I had hardly anything left at the end of it.  It is true I did teach at the school a little, and visit a few people, but what is that compared to what I ought to have done?”

By this time they had reached the gate, and Ellen, drying her tears, was soon talking almost merrily with the children, who ran up eagerly at the sight of their former teacher.  Edward had forgotten the little Guernsey French he had once known, and stood by, glad to see his favourite sister so happy; but wondering what pleasure she could find in talking to a set of dirty little things like those.  Captain Crawford called them dirty, because most officers in her Majesty’s service, if they think on the subject at all, think rags and dirtiness necessary attendants on poor children; but if Captain Crawford had looked, he would have seen as clean and neat a flock of little ones around his sister as the United Kingdom could produce.

Just as they were going to return to the house a man passed by, and touched his hat to Miss Crawford in the somewhat off-hand manner which (we must confess it) our fellow-countrymen usually employ.  Ellen stopped a moment to make some inquiries of him about his wife and children, and then turned home-wards, saying, as she took her brother’s arm,—­