For years the poor girl had cried herself to sleep on her pallet-bed, moaning over the blight her carelessness had brought upon her darling; nor was this self-reproach diminished by the forgiveness of the gentle mother, from whom Thurstan Benson derived so much of his character.

The way in which comfort stole into Sally's heart was in the gradually-formed resolution that she would never leave him nor forsake him, but serve him faithfully all her life long; and she had kept to her word.

She loved Miss Benson, but she almost worshipped the brother.

The reverence for him was in her heart, however, and did not always show itself in her manners.

But if she scolded him herself, she allowed no one else that privilege.