This proved conclusively to the elder ladies of Terrace Hill that ministers were no better than other people, and they congratulated themselves afresh upon their escape from having one of the brotherhood in thir family.
In this escape Anna was particularly interested, as it had helped to make her the delicate creature she was, for since the morning when she had knelt at her proud father's feet, and begged him to revoke his cruel decision, and say she might be the bride of a poor missionary, Anna had greatly changed, and the father, ere he died, had questioned the propriety of separating the hearts which clung so together.

But the young missionary had married another, and neither the parents nor the sisters ever forgot the look of anguish which stole into Anna's face, when she heard the fatal news.

She had thought herself prepared, but the news was just as crushing when it came, accompanied, though it was with a few last lines from him.

Anna kept this letter yet, wondering if the missionary remembered her yet, and if they would ever meet again.

This was the secret of the missionary papers scattered so profusely through the rooms at Terrace Hill.