"Oh, mamma!" exclaimed Nellie, deeply distressed. "Have I been? Did you think so? Have I been neglectful of other duties?"
"Not so bad as that, dear; I have thought once or twice that I ought to warn you, but then I could not bear to break in on your happiness."
Nellie hung her head and wept bitterly.
Her mamma touched her softly. "Darling, don't cry any more. Look up, Nellie. The loving Father above saw the danger before I did, and has prepared just what would make you think."
"But I shouldn't have thought, if you had not happened to come in," she answered brokenly. "I should only have pitied myself for being disappointed."
"Ah! But then He prepares all things, my dear, and sent me up just at the right time, perhaps."
With a kind and comforting kiss, she rose and left the room, only turning at the door to say cheerfully, "Lie down for an hour, Nellie, and then we will have tea, and a pleasant evening of reading."
Left alone, Nellie again burst into tears—not tears of pity for herself, but tears of repentance; for this conversation, so unexpected and so painful, had revealed to her, what she had no idea existed, the way in which all her thoughts, anticipations, and joys were bound up in Walter and Walter's hopes. She knew it was wrong; it did not take her tender conscience long to be assured of that. And as the review of her thoughts of the last fortnight passed before her, she felt deeply grieved to think how much they had been occupied with her brother, and how little with her Saviour.
So she told Him all about it; how sorry she was; how thankful that He had stopped her in time; and then the Holy Spirit whispered words of healing, and she arose, leaving the burden behind her.
"'Thy sins are forgiven thee.'"
"'I have loved thee with an everlasting love.'"