I should have contrasted painfully the splendor of their position with the lowliness of our own,--but now, what were wealth or rank or earthly distinctions to me?
I was sitting by my mother's bed, fanning her slumbers, as they entered.
Mrs.Linwood walked noiselessly forward, took the fan gently from my hand, and motioned me to resign my seat to her.

I did so mechanically, for it seemed she had a right to be there.

Then Edith took me by the hand and looked in my face with an expression of such sweet, unaffected sympathy, I turned aside to hide the quick-gushing tears.

Not a word was uttered, yet I knew they came to soothe and comfort.
When my mother opened her eyes and saw the face of a stranger bending over her, she started and trembled; but there was something in the mild, Christian countenance of Mrs.Linwood that disarmed her fears, and inspired confidence.

The pride which had hitherto repelled the advances of friendship, was all chastened and subdued.