cruel sufferings "she had already passed beyond them, and would never speak
to them again."

After some time, however, she seemed to them to have been brought back
by their lamentations and self-accusations, and, hushing them to silent
attention, she assured them that this was "not dying," but "living, and
preparing to live," by a return of her first love and a glorious victory
over temptation and error.

From that blessed night her convalescence was much more rapid than anyone
had thought possible. Peace of mind is a marvelous restorer, especially
when despondency has driven health away.

On a beautiful morning, a few weeks after, Elizabeth was agreeably
surprised by an unexpected announcement made at the door of her room. She
had had remarkable liberty that morning in conducting family prayer, which
by consent of her parents she resumed soon after her recent victory. Her
father came to her door, and, in a voice which sounded so much like the
good days gone by, announced his plan for "a short ride." Her own horse was
at the block; and as the strong arms of her father placed her in the saddle
the noble beast gave signs of joy over her returning health.

The horseman by her side, in the ride of that and several following
mornings, seemed agitated by conflicting emotions, yet making special
efforts to be social and attentive. O, how she enjoyed those morning rides!
Yet now and then she felt, though she could scarcely tell why, that a
strange agitation, embarrassed her father's spirits. Was he trying to
muster courage to acknowledge his wrong in persecuting her? Was he really
"under concern" for his own soul? or was he unhappy because she was not
more gay and worldly? It was useless for her to conjecture; he was a