"But do you think, Mary, that every Christian exemplifies the correctness of your remarks?"
"No, my dear. Some do not feel the influence of religion till late in life, when their taste has been vitiated, their habits formed, and their tempers set; and though it will correct some of the evils which they may have contracted, yet it rarely happens that their character receives such an amount of refinement as it would have done, had they felt its transforming power at an earlier period."
Just at this moment they were startled by a deep groan, that came from the wood near which they were standing, and on running to afford some assistance to the supposed sufferer, Miss Holmes beheld her facetious sister Emma, with a group of young friends, attempting to conceal themselves, but who burst out into loud laughter when they were discovered.
"What's the matter, girls?"
"Nothing, ladies; O nothing!" said Lucy Cooper, with a suppressed smile.
"We were afraid, from the groan we heard, that some one had been hurt, or was suddenly taken ill."
"It was only Emma, feigning illness, to disturb you in your grave musings."
"O! Emma, I wonder how you could be so foolish! I am glad, however, that there is nothing the matter; and I do not regret having been disturbed, as it appears to have contributed to your mirth."
"We have just been seeing Mrs. Kent," said Emma, "and she told us that you, and I suppose Miss Martin, had been there."