You will go to her to-morrow, Mrs.Stuart, won't you ?" As this was Mr.Mason's first meeting with the widow since the Sunday morning when the village was attacked, his words and manner showed that he dreaded any allusion to his own loss.

The widow saw and understood this; but she had consolation for him as well as for others, and would not allow him to have his way.
"But what of Alice ?" she said, earnestly.

"You do not mention her.

Henry has told me all.

Have you nothing to say about yourself--about Alice ?" "Oh! what can I say ?" cried the pastor, clasping his hands, while a deep sob almost choked him.
"Can you not say that she is in the hands of God--of a loving _Father_ ?" said Mrs.Stuart, tenderly.
"Yes, I can say that--I _have_ said that; but--but--" "I know what you would say," interrupted the widow; "you would tell me that she is in the hands of pirates,--ruthless villains who fear neither God nor man, and that, unless a miracle is wrought in her behalf, nothing can save her--" "Oh! spare me, Mary; why do you harrow my broken heart with such a picture ?" cried Mr.Mason, rising and pacing the room with quick, unsteady steps, while with both hands on his head he seemed to attempt to crush down the thoughts that burned up his brain.
"I speak thus," said the widow, with an earnestness of tone and manner that almost startled her hearers, "because I wish to comfort you.