"Oh, yes!" said Ellen; "it wasn't out of my head a minute the whole day."
"Then let it make you very humble, dear Ellie, and let it make you in future keep close to our dear Saviour, without whose help we cannot stand a moment."
Ellen sobbed; and he allowed her to do so for a few minutes, then said
"But you have not been thinking much about Him, Ellie?"
The sobs ceased; he saw his words had taken hold.
"Is it right," he said, softly, "that we should be more troubled about what people will think of us, than for having displeased or dishonoured Him?"
Ellen now looked up, and in her look was all the answer he wished.
"You understand me, I see," said he. "Be humbled in the dust before him the more the better; but whenever we are greatly concerned, for our own sakes, about other people's opinion, we may be sure we are thinking too little of God and what will please him."
"I am very sorry," said poor Ellen, from whose eyes the tears began to drop again "I am very wrong: but I couldn't bear to think what Alice would think and you and all of them."
"Here's Alice to speak for herself," said John.