The rest and ease of the present were certainly very enjoyable, yet she had no desire that the change should become a permanent one; home with all its toils and cares was still the sweetest, dearest place on earth.
Rachel came in to replenish the fire and ask if there was anything more she could do for the young lady's comfort.
"No, thank you, my wants are fully supplied," Mildred said with a smile. "I think I shall get ready for bed now."
"Den missy want her slippers and night clo's," remarked the girl hastening to bring them. "Shall dis chile' take down yo' hair and brush um out?"
"Yes," Mildred said; "when I have put on my dressing gown; and I'll read to you while you do it."
"Tank you, missy, dis child be berry glad to hear readin'," the girl answered with a look of pleasure, "can't read none herself and neber expects to know how. Dat's for white folks."
"Then I'll read the Bible to you every night and morning while you do up my hair," Mildred said. "It is God's word, Rachel; his letter to tell us the way to heaven and we need to know what it says."
"Spect we does, miss," responded the girl, with wide open, wondering eyes fixed on Mildred's face. "But nobody neber tole me dat befo'."
"Then here is work for me to do for the Master," thought Mildred, and sent up a silent petition, "Lord, teach me how to lead her to thee."
"O thou child of many prayers! Life hath quicksands, life hath snares!" --Longfellow.
A bright ray of sunshine stealing in between the silken curtains fell athwart Mildred's eyes and awoke her.
The fire was blazing cheerily on the hearth, Rachel was at hand to wait upon her, and she found it by no means unpleasant to sit still and have her hair skilfully arranged for her instead of doing the work with her own hands, as she had been accustomed to do since she was quite a little girl.
She occupied herself the while in reading aloud from the Bible, according to promise, and Rachel seemed well pleased to listen.
Her toilet completed, Mildred went to the library to answer her letter, while waiting for the breakfast bell, and there Mr. Dinsmore found her.
"That is quite right," he said. "Send my love to them all. But don't close your letter yet, you'll want to tell your mother about your ride. We'll take one that used to be a favorite with her."