"I was visiting Mrs Harpur the day I got this illness," continued Fanny," and have often thought of her since, and wished I were like her, holy and happy as she is.”

“Well, Fan, if we would be holy, we must live near to God, have daily intercourse with Him. That is the way to warm our cold hearts; constant communion with Him, frequent meditating on His love, that is the secret of growth in grace: and remember, if we do not grow, we shall decline, if we do not advance, we shall go back; we cannot remain stationary."

"That is an awful thought, uncle."

"And as true as it is awful, Fan. Growth is the evidence of life, you know; and there can be no growth unless there be a constant receiving from Him who is 'The Way, the Truth, and the Life.' Never forget, that abiding in Christ is the root of the matter. Our sanctification, as well as our justification, consists in our being in Him.”

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"I know those words so well, dear uncle, and read them in St John's Gospel this morning; but they seem so deep, I don't think I understand them." "You know who is represented by the vine in that chapter?"

"Our Lord, uncle."

"And the branches represent?"

"His true disciples.'

"Well, you see, as the union between the vine and the branches is not a mere joining on, but a participation of the same juice flowing from the one into

the other; so, those who abide in Christ,' the true Vine, are not disciples merely by profession, but by a vital union—partakers of His life. Do you understand me, Fan?"

"I think so, uncle."

"Sever the branch from the vine, and it dies, having no life in itself," continued Uncle William. "And in that same chapter our Lord says, 'Without me'—that is, separate, apart from me-'ye can do nothing.'

"Do those words you have just quoted allude to active service, uncle?" Fanny asked.

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They certainly include all service, active and passive, Fan. But I think they especially allude to the inner life of the soul,-the growth and strengthening of the inward life of faith, which is carried on by the perpetual receiving out of His fulness, grace answering to the grace that is in Him; as the apostle expresses it, 'grace for grace." "But are not works an evidence of faith, uncle?"

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Undoubtedly, and the only evidence; and besides being an evidence of faith, works, when rightly performed that is to say, when they spring from faith and love-strengthen the life of faith."

"Uncle William," said Fanny, looking steadily in his face, while her eyes filled with tears, "I am sure I have never rightly performed any work."

"Why do you think that?" Mr Wright asked. "Because my works have, I am sure of it, hindered my growing in grace; and you said just now, that when

rightly performed they served to strengthen the life of faith."

"If it be so, then start afresh this moment. Thank God that He has opened your eyes to see your danger the dangers of what you told me this morning."

"You mean neglecting Bible-reading and prayer, uncle?"

."I do. Christ alone can give life. He alone can roll away the stone which closes the entrance to the heart. But the life which He bestows must be fed, strengthened by the means which He has appointed, and especially by the study of His Word and prayer: prayer, by which we speak to God-His Word, by which He speaks to us."

"Do you think I have any faith, uncle?" Fanny asked; and he replied by asking her—

"What is faith?"

"Believing in Christ," she answered.

"Yes, a believing which implies trust-trust in Christ, or in God through Christ, placing our entire confidence in the efficacy of all that Christ has done and suffered for us: that is the scriptural meaning of faith in Christ. Have you this faith, Fan?'

"I hope I do trust alone in Christ for salvation, uncle; but my faith is very weak."

"Faith may be very weak, and yet as real as if it were strong,” replied Uncle William.

"You are always so encouraging, dear uncle," said Fanny, smiling through her tears.

"It is not I, but the gospel of Christ which is

encouraging, Fan. I dare not speak thus, unless I had Scripture warrant for so doing; and it is an unspeakable comfort to be assured by God's own Word, that the salvation of our souls does not depend upon the strength of our faith, but upon the substitution of Christ for the sinner in the sacrifice on the cross. That is the rock against which the gates of hell shall not prevail."

Mr Wright had been speaking with his eyes fixed on the carpet, and now raising his head, he was alarmed to see Fanny flushed and agitated. "You are tired," he said. "I forgot I was in a sick-room, and ran on as if I had been in the old pulpit at Farleigh. So now, I'll not say another word, but sit here as still as a mouse until the dinner-bell rings; and if you don't wish to get me a good scolding, or perhaps have me packed off to-morrow morning, you'll go to sleep, won't you, Fan?"

"I'll try, uncle," she said; "but I'd a great deal rather hear you talking, and I have ever so many questions to ask you.

"All in good time, Fan; but don't expect too much from me. If you do, you will surely be disappointed. I can only speak right words to you as I am given them to speak. Expect much from Christ himself, and you will receive more than you can ask or think."

CHAPTER XVII.

"I THINK I heard you say something about sending to the railway station this afternoon, Arthur," said Mr Wright to his brother the next morning. "Would you desire your messenger to ask for a parcel for me from London?"

"By what train do you expect it ?"

"I really do not know. Probably the midday. It's an answer to a letter I posted yesterday afternoon."

Two hours later the parcel arrived,—a long, narrow, brown-paper parcel.

"Very like a fishing-rod," said Harry, "only clergymen don't fish.”

"Or a map," suggested Blanche, who had seen a roll of maps come to the school before the last Christmas examinations. "Will you open it, Uncle William, and let us see?

"See what, Madam Inquisitive?

“What's in the parcel. I don't know what it is," she replied.

"No, indeed; it must go into the corner for tonight, and rest itself after its journey."

So the children had to be satisfied as best they could, but many a curious glance found its way into