"Charity thinketh no evil."

Rachel White's Fault.

CHAPTER I.

JESSIE'S FIRST PLACE.

NE bright morning in May, two young girls, of sixteen and seventeen, were walking through a pleasant lane towards a pretty village, about fifty miles from London.

They were neatly dressed, and had the appearance of being the daughters of mechanics or farm labourers in the neighbourhood.

The lane ascended for some distance, till it reached a railway bridge, which crossed the line and led to the village. On the bridge they paused, to watch the train pass through a deep cutting and enter a tunnel under the hill on which the village lay scattered.

At a distance, from the other side of the bridge, could be seen the roofs and spires of a neighbouring market town; and between lay fields and meadows, through which the line of rail could be followed by the eye for miles.

On a rising ground, half-way between the town and the village, stood Evelyn Hall, the country residence of Sir Edward Evelyn, often called the "Squire," its white front clearly defined on a back-ground of noble trees, and the extensive park that surrounded it dotted with deer.

"Have you got the situation?" asked Rachel, the elder of the two girls.

"Oh, yes;” replied Jessie, “and I'm so glad! what a beautiful place it is! And I shall have to wheel the perambulator about those lovely grounds; how nice it will be!"

"Yes, for you; but I don't like the trouble of children, and I only hope you'll get on well with the nurse; she isn't much liked by some of the servants, because she's so suspicious; but most of 'em have been at the hall years and years, and this nurse came only six months ago, so what she says can't hurt them."

"You've only been there two months, Rachel."

"Yes, I know; but she's nothing to do with me, you know; I'm in the kitchen with cook, and she's a very nice woman.' "Yes, I've heard mother say so; she's known her a long time. But, Rachel, do you like kitchen work? It seems so hot and dirty to me."

"Not at the hall, Jessie; the places are so large, and there's every thing to make the work easy; besides, I shall learn to cook, and get a cook's place by and bye, if I do well."

“Ah, yes, that will be capital; but I'm so fond of children, and I've seen those two darlings-the baby and dear little Miss Eva."

"What! did nurse take you into the nursery? Oh, then, I dare say you'll be a favourite, for she's very particular; and my lady thinks her so clever with children, and perhaps she is."

"All the better for me, I shall learn from her as you do from cook; besides, there's no other servant wanted in the

hall, and mother's so particular, she won't let me go to any common place. You know she was housemaid in a lord's family; but for all that, my father says he wouldn't let me be servant to dukes or duchesses if they weren't people who feared God."

"I've heard mother talk about your father, Jessie, she knew him years ago; but some people think he's too strict about religion."

"But can people be too strict about religion, Rachel ?"

"Well, I don't know, it doesn't do good always; there's Sarah Mills, her father's very strict about going to chapel on Sundays and week days too; and they have to sit still on Sundays and learn hymns and read the bible. But for all that, they quarrel, and fight, and tell lies; and as for Sarah, she's always speaking against people and being envious."

"My father says," replied Jessie, "that people who only teach their children as you say Sarah's father does, just teach them half their duty and leave the other half alone."

"That's just it. Oh, Jessie! she'll be as envious as possible when she hears you've got the place at the hall, for she tried for it."

"Did she? I wonder she didn't get it then, for she's been out before, and I haven't."

"Why, I'll tell you how it was; her mistress couldn't give her a character for being truthful, and she said she was always making mischief among the servants, and that wouldn't suit my lady."

"No, I'm sure of that; it's what my father says people do who have no charity; they tell tales, and talk scandal, and think evil of everybody. Oh, Rachel, don't you remember when the rector explained that chapter to us in the Corinthians, he said that charity meant love to God and love to man? And it was like the two great commandments that our Saviour repeated to the lawyer, in the 22nd chapter of Matthew. For,

he said, love to God would make us try to please Him; and love to man would teach us to be kind and patient, instead of thinking and saying all sorts of evil against people."

"I think, Jessie,” said Rachel, after a pause, “that people who are fond of talking and listening to tales, often say what they ought not. I know I talk too much, mother tells me I do; and perhaps I oughtn't to have said that about nurse, only it's to you, and you won't make mischief I'm sure.”

"No, indeed; but I think your mother is right, Rachel, because some day, when you're talking it may be to a spiteful person, or one who likes to repeat things."

"Yes, that's true, but I'll remember to take care who I talk to, next time; and here we are at the lodge. I must say good bye now, Jessie. It was very kind of cook to let me out to walk home with you to-day, for everybody's very busy; my lady's going to London, and the young ladies, and the governess, and Miss Clara are going with her, but not nurse or the babies. Good bye, Jessie, I shall see you often after next week."

And Rachel ran across the park towards the servants' entrance, while Jessie pursued her way through the village. She had to pass the home of Sarah Mills. John Mills was a most respectable, steady man, a kind of small tailor in the village, and very much respected; but, like Eli, his children "made themselves vile and he restrained them not." He had, as Jessie said, only taught them the outward half of religion, and perhaps his wife's want of discipline had something to do with their conduct.

Sarah stood at the door, nursing her youngest brother, as Jessie passed. She would have wished her good evening, but Sarah avoided looking at her; but she did not allow her to pass out of hearing, before she said—

"Dear me, how proud we are of being under-nurse at the hall!"