Vaughan's,  a  pleasant  family  belonging  to  Mr.  Sunder-
land's  society,  and  living  not  far  from  him.  She  found
there  an  agreeable  home,  and  cheered  in  her  leisure
hours  by  the  society  of  her  new  friends  and  of  Lenora,
the  weeks  passed  swiftly  away.
She  had  a  great  respect  and  affection  for  her  own
minister,  Mr.  Morton,  but  in  hearing  Mr.  Sunderland,
her  ideal  of  a  preacher  was  first  answered.  There  was
thought  and  reasoning,  imagination  and  fervor,  all  in
their  due  proportion.  His  logic  was  kindled  by  love,
and  his  arguments  blazed  with  illustration.
"  How  much  I  shall  miss  Mr.  Sunderland's  ser-
mons ! "  said  Lenora.  "  It  will  be  next  to  my  missing
of  you."

She  had  been  suddenly  summoned  home,  in  the
expectation  of  going  abroad  with  her  parents  in  the
spring.  She  promised  to  call  on  Julia  McKinstry,  who
had  written  to  Marion  with  much  sympathy,  urging  her
to  spend  the  winter  in  New  York.
•'  Papa  says  we  get  along  as  cozily  as  two  old  shoes,"
she  said,  "  but  you  must  come  and  see  for  yourself."

Lenora  spent  her  last  afternoon  at  the  parsonage,  in
company  with  Marion.  She  tried  to  rattle  off  with  her
usual  gayety,  but  was  evidently  under  a  cloud.  Seat-
ing himself  beside  her,  Mr.  Sunderland  drew  her  into  a
serious  conversation,  while  his  mother  and  Marion  were


OR,    HIGHER   THAN    HAPPINESS.  231

chatting  together.  What  he  said  to  her  they  did  not
know,  but  they  :.;aw  ii  was  almost  impossible  for  her  to
control  her  feelings.
