"I'm sick of it," chimed in Miss Reed, "what difference does it make what you believe, if you're only sincere and live right?"
"'With the heart man believeth unto righteousness,'" said Violet; "and 'the just shall live by faith.'"
"You're an apt pupil," sneered Virginia.
"It is mamma's doing that my memory is stored with texts," returned the child, reddening.
Isadore was silent and gloomy, and took leave of her young cousin so coldly, as to quite sadden her sensitive spirit.
Violet had enjoyed being made much of by Isa, who was a beautiful and brilliant young lady, and this sudden change in her manner was far from pleasant. Still the pain it gave her was greatly overbalanced by the relief of having her perplexities removed, her doubts set at rest.
Standing on the veranda, she watched the carriage as it rolled away down the avenue, then hailed with delight a horseman who came galloping up, alighted and giving the bridle to Solon, turned to her with open arms, and a smile that proclaimed him the bearer of good tidings, before he uttered a word.
"Grandpa," she cried, springing to his embrace, "Oh, is Lily better?"
"Yes," he said, caressing her, then turning to greet Rosie and the boys, who had come running at the sound of his voice. "I have had a letter from your mother, in which she says the dear invalid seems decidedly better."
"Oh, joy! joy!" cried the children, Rosie hugging and kissing her grandfather, the boys capering about in a transport of gladness.