CHAPTER VII.

THE TURNING-POINT.

"The blessing fell upon her soul: Her angel by her side Know that the hour of peace was come; Her soul was purified."

"WHERE are you going, Gabrielle?" said her mother, as one morning, shortly after Claude's accident, the bright French girl put on a dainty little hat, and placing two rosy-checked apples in a small wicker-work basket, was preparing to go out.

"Ah, maman," she answered, "I was just going to tell thee I was setting off to the Grove to ask for the pauvre petit garcon—André's protégé, we call him. Was it not a merciful thing that André should have passed by that part of the common and found the child lying behind a clump of furze bushes, where no one would have thought of looking for him? You know, ma chère mère, the doctor thinks the child had caught his foot in a hole and fallen (there are so many of those small holes in the common), and the fall had stunned him, so he lay motionless, and never heard his name called again and again by his father and friends. Poor Mam'selle Warner! They do say she blames herself for not taking care of the child; and André declares her face was white with fright. I am so sorry for her."

"Pauvre petite fille!" said Mrs. M'Ivor, "She must have plenty to do with all those motherless children, for Miss Vernon, on dit, is not at all strong. Yes, go, ma fille, and find out how they all are. I wish Miss Warner would come to see me, as I am not yet strong enough to walk so far as the Grove, and I would like to try and comfort the motherless girl, whose father has been so kind to us."

Priscilla Warner was seated alone in the parlour of the Grove, cast down and weary. Claude was still very ill, for fever had set in; and she was feeling intense grief that he never asked for her, though he would smile when she entered the room.

Then her father, her loved father, had spoken sternly to her, and told her plainly he was sorely disappointed in her, and had forbidden her to take out little Ruth even into the garden unless nurse or Miss Vernon were with her. Against this sentence she had protested strongly.

"O father, don't say that—please don't! Surely you can't think I would neglect Ruth, my darling little sister. Oh, don't wean her love from me; leave me that at least! O father, don't!"

But Dr. Warner was not moved by her entreaties. "I wish to wean no one's love from you, Priscilla," he said; "but I cannot have the child's life perhaps sacrificed to your carelessness. You don't seem to have won the children's love as you ought to have done. I fear you seek your own pleasure before theirs. Your mother never did that, Priscilla; it was always others first and herself last with her. I am disappointed in you, my daughter. You can go now; and remember what I have said."

Priscilla moved to the door, her heart too full to admit of her saying a word; but her father's voice recalled her:

"Stay a moment, Priscilla. What were you doing with this book?" And he produced the cherished "Treatise on Astronomy."

"Studying it, father," she replied, and as she spoke she looked him full in the face.

"You!" The tone of contempt in which the word was said was hard to bear. "Well, I do think, considering the fact that you could not really understand a word of it, that was a profitless way of spending your time. If you wish to know the names of the stars, why not ask myself or your brothers?"

At these words Prissy broke through all constraint. "Names of the stars, father?" she said. "Why, I have studied astronomy for long. I can answer you any question in that book you like to ask me—indeed I can. Father, I am not a fool; try me and see."

Dr. Warner looked at his daughter in amazement. "You have studied astronomy, Priscilla! No wonder, then, that your home duties were left unfulfilled. You know I strongly object to women bungling over subjects they can make nothing of. You had better give up playing at that sort of thing and attend to your proper lessons and duties."

And Priscilla, without a word, left the room and went to the parlour, and sat down in the frame of mind we have already described.

She had sat there for some time when the door was opened, and Miss M'Ivor was announced.

Priscilla had never seen Gabrielle before, and the bright face and winning manners of the girl captivated her at once.

"How is the little Claude to-day?" she asked. "Maman and I were so sorry for you, Mam'selle Warner; and I could not rest till I heard how you all were to-day. Ah, I know how anxious you will be, and how one loves the little brothers. André says he will never forget how frightened you looked. Is he, then, better to-day?"

Priscilla's eyes filled with tears as she replied, "Poor little Claude! He still suffers much; but the doctor says in time he will be well again. We were so grateful to your brother, Miss M'Ivor, for finding the child. I had intended to call at your house to-day and thank him."

"Ah, André was only too glad, he loves the little ones so much; our boys all cling to André. You see that mamma is so far from strong that André and I have had a great deal to do with the little ones. And it is pleasant to be able to help them, is it not?"

"Yes," said Priscilla; "but boys are difficult to manage, and they are so exacting that if one would study, you cannot be always attending to them."

Gabrielle laughed a sweet silvery laugh. "Ah, yes, 'tis true these little fellows think one has nothing to do in life save to attend to them. But what then? It is our work which the good God has given to us elder sisters, is it not? And we can easily put aside our loved studies to do his will and win their love, can we not?"

Priscilla shook her head. "Ah, but if one loves study," she said, "it is not so easy."

"No, truly," replied Gabrielle; "it is often a little cross which Jesus asks us to carry for him," and the girl's voice softened as she spoke. "He bore such a heavy cross for us. And then love lightens our little crosses so. Who knows but we may have the honour of leading these little ones into the kingdom of God? At all events, mamma says we must see to it that we do not by our selfishness cast a stumbling-block in the way of one of the little ones, and so keep them back from the kingdom. André does not, I am sure. Sometimes I am afraid they see it is an effort on my part to put aside my books to attend to them."

"Then you love study?" asked Prissy.

"Oh! So much; but, voila, there is not much time for it with all these little ones. And you, Miss Warner, must feel that also. See, here I brought these rosy-cheeked apples for the poor little Claude. Do you think he will care for them? Of course I know you have plenty others in your garden; but these are so pretty, perhaps he may fancy them."

"Thanks," said Priscilla; "they are beauties. I am sure Claude will like them; it was kind of you to bring them."

"Mamma begs you will come and see her, Miss Warner. It will be a real pleasure to her, if you will come; and I am sure you will love her. She is so sorry for any one who is motherless; and so am I," said the girl, with a look of love and pity in her eyes that went to Priscilla's heart. "Ah, what should I do without the dear maman? The world would indeed be triste, oh, très-triste then. But you have such a good brother, Miss Warner, André says. Mr. Austin Warner is so good and kind; and you should hear how the poor sick lad Anthony Smith speaks of him. He told papa the other day, if ever he got into the kingdom of God, it would be through Mr. Austin's showing him the way."

Then rising, Gabrielle said good-bye, and with a bright smile departed, leaving Priscilla cheered in spite of herself, and humbled as she thought how Austin, hard-working student as he was, was not only trying to lead his own brother, but others also, into the kingdom of God, whilst she, self-absorbed and self-seeking, had hindered rather than helped others from entering therein. She had grieved her father, neglected her brothers, and forgotten her God.

Was it too late to amend her ways? A voice seemed to say, "Not yet, not yet: turn ye, turn ye; why will ye die? Call upon me in the day of trouble." And she did. As a little child Priscilla Warner entered the kingdom of God that day, and took hold of Christ's strength and power to overcome her selfishness, and enable her to do the work God had given her to do, and in so doing to help on the coming of his kingdom.