eagerly every expression of her face, with both her hands in his

"Do you like your home, little wife ?" ·

There was a quick glance upwards from the blue eyes, a quick returning pressure of the hands, and leaning her head again on her husband's breast, she exclaimed

Dear Gilbert!"

C

CHAPTER IV.

HOME'S FIRST EXPERIENCES.

"Oh, happy, who the city's noise
Can quit for nature's quiet joys,

Quit worldly sin and worldly sorrow;
No more 'midst prison-walls abide,
But, in God's temple, vast and wide,
Pour praises every eventide,

Ask mercies every morrow."

WHAT a burst from nature's orchestra saluted Emily's ears as she strolled out into the verandah next morning, partly to regale her eyes with her floral treasures, partly to look after another treasure standing in an adjacent paddock attending to pony; for Gilbert Owen added the office of groom to his other ministerial qualifications.

Such a pretty view she had of these same grooming operations, through a vista of passion-flower and wattle blossom. She thought Gilbert had never looked better than he did at that moment, in his loose grey tweed coat and trousers, and cool-looking white shirt and necktie, the morning breeze waving back from his fine brow his dark black hair. almost longed to go and help him, it looked so pleasant out under the trees. The grass seemed so resh, so green, she hardly thought of the flowers

She

round her.

But with the timidity of a young bride she kept her place, and contented herself with her covert view.

How she enjoyed the thought that he could not see her, and still stood so unconsciously brushing the glossy coat of Arab, without a suspicion of the blue eyes that were upon him. And how quietly Arab stood, arching his pretty neck to the brush, as though the operation was a pleasing one, or the hand that executed it one he loved.

"How gracefully and well Gilbert does everything," she thought; and the thought led into such a labyrinth of reverie, that it was doubtful how long it would have lasted, had not a submissive voice at her elbow startled her by its abruptness, recalling a remembrance of her new character and duties.

66

'Please, Mrs. Owen, will I boil some eggs for breakfast?"

Blushing like one of the spring roses she held in her hand, at the sound of her own name,- -a title so new, and therefore so strange to her,-Emily turned to her waiting attendant with a smile, and replied,

"I will come and see, Jenny." Then giving one more glance at the pleasant prospect through the wattle vista without, she turned to one scarcely less pleasant within.

Bright looked the pretty little parlour in the light of morning. The neat though simple carpet, traversed by golden bars of sunshine, and the white table-cloth looking whiter still by the reflection of shadowy rose-leaves that rested here and there, dancing and quivering upon it. The dark rich

colours of the breakfast-tray, the snowy brilliancy of the coffee-cups, all shone out in full beauty, adding their modicum of brightness to the whole. But to Emily there was one object on the breakfast-table that made her heart beat more lightly than all the rest, and this was a large old family Bible in greenbaize cover, placed at one corner of the table by the large easy-chair-Gilbert's chair. It whispered to her of peace and happiness well founded, of an enduring character. For a moment she laid both hands upon it, and her glowing cheek on those, and breathed a prayer to Him who has promised to hear and bless. Then rising, and noticing for the first time the little hymn-book accompanying the Bible, she opened the small harmonium that stood in one corner of their little parlour, and placed her own hymn-book and the Union tune-book upon it in readiness.

After that, how quickly and rapidly sped the preparations for breakfast. Jenny looked on in admiration at the delicate hands-one moment engaged with the slices of ham, the next arranging flowers upon the breakfast-table. There was something very pleasant to Emily in all this: it gave elasticity to her tread, as she passed from parlour to kitchen superintending and assisting in all. How the thought that it was her own home-that she alone was the mistress there-quickened her footsteps, and sent a warm glow of pleasure over her cheek.

She was giving the last finishing touch to the table when her husband came in. He stood silently in the doorway, feasting his eyes on the pretty scene,

then coming forward, and placing his hands on the slender shoulders, he exclaimed,—

"Busy already, little wifee?"

The little wife's arrangements were abruptly concluded, as with a sudden start she turned round, shaking the delicate vase of flowers as she did so. A few choice flowers lost their petals and filled the room with the odour of their honeyed nectar in return.

"You like your new home, Emmy; do you not, darling?" asked Gilbert, caressingly. He had asked her that so often, for he liked the way her blue eyes gave him answer, and cared for no other. She presently glided away from him to the seat she had arranged for herself, just placing her hand upon the Bible in passing, by way of reminding him of what had yet to take place before breakfast. Then summoning Jenny, she opened the tune-book, and quietly awaited her part in the hallowed service.

And then arose from that little room hushed melody of faith, and hope, and joy: such as angels delight to look down from their starry home to hear, adding, perchance, their own sweet harp-notes in chorus. Oh! who would condemn thee: who would banish this sweet music from the Christian's home! Thou hast been called the handmaid of devotion, and truly such art thou; for is it not thy harmonies that elevate our thoughts to themes divine, to melodies of the spheres? Oh! is it not through the medium of earthly music we learn something of those harp-notes, gushing and tremulous as the rippling of waters, that will greet our ravished ears above?

The words of the hymn were of the love of Christ;