how could you?" "It is just like her!" these, and like exclamations burst from the indignant group, while two of the more thoughtful among them attempted to raise the unconscious form from the floor. The attempt roused Rose. She pressed her hands to her aching brows, and moaned with pain. A fresh murmur of indignation burst from the frightened group.

"Hush, girls, hush," said Rose, feebly, yet with all the strength she could command, "Jane didn't mean to push me. so hard, and I am sure she is sorry. Is there some water here? I am so faint!"

She sank into a chair, which Mary Ives, with her usual thoughtfulness had brought. At that moment Miss Eldon entered from a side room, whence she had been summoned by Jane herself. Her gentle assistance soon restored the

fainting girl to consciousness. She bound her own soft cambric handkerchief around the wound, and, despatching two of the scholars for a carriage, she, with "cousin Mary," accompanied Rose, who still relapsed into occasional fainting fits, to her home.

After they had gone, the girls gathered in groups to discuss the matter, while Jane, wretched and conscience-stricken, retired to her desk to weep. Wretched, indeed, she was, for she had done a wrong to that gentle sufferer that no after-repentance could amend. We know not her precise thoughts, but in those moments of bitter regret, may we not hope there lay the germs of a better life life that was yet to unfold, though slowly, until it brought forth the beautiful fruits of love and righteousness?

a

At length Miss Eldon returned. The

girls crowded around her, in their eagerness to inquire after Rose.

"She is better, and will sustain no serious injury, the doctor hopes," was the reply, and calling the school to order -the time for dismissing having arrived -the room was soon nearly empty.

Not quite. Jane still lingered, at Miss Eldon's desire, but when the sorrowing teacher approached the desk where she sat, burying her swollen face in her hands, she had no heart to utter the words of reproach which were rising to her lips. She saw that they were not needed. So, with true Christian kindness, she sought how she might relieve that burdened spirit, by pouring in upon its aching consciousness of guilt, the balm of sympathy and kindness. She assured Jane of Rose's safety, and after quieting her apprehensions in that direc