From the earliest ages of the world, the needs-be of suffering has been a mystery. Down to the latest, it will be a mystery still. Truly, the more we "know Him," the less mystery it is to us: for even where we cannot see, we can trust His love. Yet there are human analogies, which may throw some faint light on the dark question: and one of these will be found in the following pages. "What I do, thou knowest not now"—sometimes because it is morally impossible,—our finite capacity could not hold it: but sometimes, too, because we could not be trusted with the knowledge. In their case, there is one thing we can do—wait. "O thou of little faith!—wherefore didst thou doubt?"

"Oh restful, blissful ignorance!

'Tis blessed not to know.

It keeps me still in those kind arms

Which will not let me go,

And hushes my soul to rest

On the bosom that loves me so!

"So I go on, not knowing,—

I would not, if I might.

I would rather walk in the dark with God

Than walk alone in the light;

I would rather walk with Him by faith,

Than walk alone by sight.

"My heart shrinks back from trials

Which the future may disclose;

Yet I never had a sorrow

But what the dear Lord chose:

So I send the coming tears back

With the whispered word, 'He knows!'"

CONTENTS.

CHAP.

  1. [GUY TAKES THE CROSS]
  2. [TWO SURPRISES FOR ELAINE]
  3. [ALL IS NOT GOLD THAT GLITTERS]
  4. [A JOURNEY—AND THE END OF IT]
  5. [CURIOUS NOTIONS]
  6. [THE PERVERSITY OF PEOPLE]
  7. [A LITTLE CLOUD OUT OF THE SEA]
  8. [AS GOOD AS MOST PEOPLE]
  9. [ELAINE FINDS MORE THAN SHE EXPECTED]
  10. [PREPARING FOR THE STRUGGLE]
  11. [THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM]
  12. [WILL SHE GIVE HIM UP?]
  13. [WAITING FOR THE INEVITABLE]
  14. [SYBIL'S CHOICE]

LADY SYBIL'S CHOICE

CHAPTER I.

GUY TAKES THE CROSS.

"But what are words, and what am I?

An infant crying in the night;

An infant crying for the light;

And with no language but a cry."

—TENNYSON.

Alix says I am a simpleton. I don't think it is particularly pleasant. Sometimes she says I am a perfect simpleton: and I cannot say that I like that any better. Nor do I think that it is very civil in one's sister to put her opinion on record in this certainly perspicuous, but not at all complimentary manner. Still, I have heard her say it so many times that I might almost have come to believe it, if she did not say so of anybody but me. But when—as she did this morning—she says Guy is a simpleton, that I cannot stand with any patience. Because there is nobody like Guy in all the world. He is the best, kindest, dearest brother that ever a girl had or could have. And it is a shame of Alix to say such things. I am sure of it.[#]