“But might not the new flow in naturally, and displace the old?”

“That is partly true, but when content with our condition we feel the need of no other.  This is one reason why to many, the blessings in store for them are seemingly so long in coming.  The man who is struggling with adversity, and sees nothing but darkness and want surrounding him, fondly imagines that in the possession of abundance he would find rest and peace.  And yet he could never be blest while in that condition of feeling, though all wealth were his.  But having passed through, and out of, this condition, and learned that the exertion induced by privation was the best possible means of his growth, then, wealth might come to him and be a blessing and a power.  Blessings will come to us when we are prepared by culture or discipline to rightly employ them for our own good and the good of others.”

“Your thoughts have made me truly blest.  You have withdrawn the dark veil which has hung over me so long.  I must surely call this a blessing.”

“And the darkness was the same, for it has led you to appreciate the light.”

He took her hand at parting, and pressed it with the warmth of generous gratitude, bade her adieu and went out into the darkness of the evening, but with rays of the morning of life shining in his soul.

CHAPTER XXVII.

“Dawn!  Dawn! where are you?” called Mrs. Austin from the library after Mr. Bowen had left.  “I’m glad that stupid fellow has gone,” she continued, “for we want you to sing for us.”

How could she sing?  The sentiment which would suit her mood would not surely be fitted to those who would listen; but forcing her real state aside, she played and sung several lively songs.

“Delightful!” exclaimed her friend, “we mean to have more of your company now, and keep such stupid people as Clarence Bowen away, he is so changed; he used to be very gay and lively; what do you find in him, Dawn?”

“A need; a great soul need.  He wants comforting.”

“What, is he sad?  He ought to be the merriest, happiest fellow alive.  He has enough of this world’s goods, and a most brilliant woman for a wife.”

“These alone cannot give happiness.  True, lasting happiness is made up of many little things on which the world places but little value.  He has much to make him thoughtful and earnest, and very little to make him gay.”

“You are so unlike everybody else, Dawn.  Now I like life; real, hearty, earnest life.  I don’t care a straw for hidden causes.  I want what’s on the surface.  I think we were put here to enjoy ourselves and make each other happy.”

“So do I; but what you call ‘happiness,’ might to some, be mere momentary excitement, mere transient pleasure.  To me, the word happiness means something deeper; a current, which holds all the ripples of life in its deep channel.”