CHAPTER XXII.
_EDITH'S_ life, as we have seen, became lost, so to speak, in charities.
Her work lay chiefly with children, She was active in mission-schools and in two or three homes for friendless little ones, and did much to extend their sphere of usefulness.

Her garments were plain and sombre, her fair young face almost colorless, and her aspect so nun-like as often to occasion remark.
Her patience and tender ways with poor little children, especially with the youngest, were noticed by all who were associated with her.
Sometimes she would show unusual interest in a child just brought to one of the homes, particularly if it were a boy, and only two or three years old.

She would hover about it and ask it questions, and betray an eager concern that caused a moment's surprise to those who noticed her.

Often, at such times, the pale face would grow warm with the flush of blood sent out by her quicker heartbeats, and her eyes would have a depth of expression and a brightness that made her beauty seem the reflection of some divine beatitude.

Now and then it was observed that her manner with these little waifs and cast-adrifts that were gathered in from the street had in it an expression of pain, that her eyes looked at them sadly, sometimes tearfully.