And she laid the picture carefully
away among her treasures.
Her last evening at home soon came. It was a clear, chilly night, and
they had a fire in the drawing-room grate. It was so cosy to sit there
with her father, resting her head on his shoulders, and watching the
coals glowing in the twilight.
"Beth, my child, you look so much happier lately. Are you really so
happy?" he said, after they had been talking for a while.
"Oh, I think life is so very happy!" said Beth, in a buoyant tone. "And
when you love Jesus it is so much sweeter, and somehow I like everyone
so much and everybody is so kind. Oh, I think life is grand!"
Dr. Woodburn was a godly man, and his daughter's words thrilled him
sweetly. He brushed away a tear she did not see, and stooped to kiss the
young cheek resting on his coat-sleeve. They were silent for a few
moments.
"Beth, my dear," he said in a softer tone, "Do you know, I thought that
trouble last summer--over Clarence--was going to hurt you more. How is
it, Beth?"
She hesitated a moment.
"I don't believe I really loved him, father," she said, in a quiet tone,
"I thought I did. I thought it was going to break my heart that night I
found out he loved Marie.
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