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She still kept her secret in her heart; and although troubled at

the idea of concealment with so good a mother, she was

nevertheless restrained by a thousand fears from communicating

it. Her plans were, indeed, very different from those of her

mother, or rather, she had none, having committed the future into

the hands of Providence; she therefore endeavoured to change the

subject, saying in general terms that her only hope was to be

permanently re-united to her mother.

"Do you know why you feel thus?" said Agnes; "you have suffered

so much, that it seems impossible to you that things can turn out

happily. But let God work; and if-- Let a ray of hope come-a

single ray, and then we shall see that you will think

differently."