"Such a silly, frivolous little town mouse as I was a year ago!" with a merry laugh. "Do you know, aunt, I can hardly realize I am the same girl I was then!"
"Why not, my dear?"
"I don't know if I can quite explain what I mean, but I'll try." Stella smiled, her eyes shone brightly and her cheeks flushed. "I don't seem to care for the same things now that I did then. I used to love fine clothes and grand houses and being thought pretty," with a deep blush. "It seems such a vain thing to say, but it's true. All mother's visitors used to say I was a lovely child, and they used to praise the way mother dressed me, till I grew conceited and proud. Then when poor mother died and I came here, I thought—forgive me, Aunt Mary—I thought the house and furniture looked so shabby and old-fashioned, and Dora and Nellie so plainly dressed. You are not angry, you are sure you are not angry, Aunt Mary?"
"Not in the least; I have often guessed what your thoughts must have been," Mrs. Knight answered, smiling encouragingly. "Go on—the house and the furniture are the same now as they were a year ago!"
"Yes, but I'm different, that's what I mean. And I think it's mostly owing to you, Aunt Mary; you've been so good to me, so patient, never laughing at my silly ways, or scolding me for my faults. Oh, I wish I was your own little girl! I don't want to be rich, I'd rather have no money at all than—"
"My dear Stella," her aunt interposed gravely, "do not make the mistake of thinking that riches and happiness cannot go together. All good gifts come from God, and surely wealth may be a good gift. It is a great blessing in competent hands. In itself it is nothing, but it works good or evil according to the character of its owner. It is my hope and prayer, Stella, that with God's help your money may be a good gift to you. The world will perhaps honour you because you possess wealth, but you know, my little adopted daughter, the world's standard is not yours. Remember how our Lord prayed for those who had received His teaching: 'I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.'"
"Oh, Aunt Mary, I know; but I would so much rather be poor!"
"What, Stella! Rather be without the great gift God has given you to use for Him! Do you shrink from the responsibility of wealth? God has said, 'I will instruct thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.' You cannot tell what blessings He may mean to work by your weak hands!"
The child sighed and looked thoughtful. In a few minutes she spoke again.
"At home when mother was alive the servants used to speak of me as an heiress, and I thought it so grand, but they did not love me— nobody loved me really but Sarah, and she did not think much of money."