304 
A MORTIFICATION. 
much for him, and he said, with a quivering 
lip, “ You need not distress yourself, Annie. 
I shall never go there again.” 
“What is the matter?” asked Sidney, 
looking anxiously at his cousin. “I do be¬ 
lieve—” you have been crying, he was going 
to say, when he remembered that perhaps 
Richard would not like to have it noticed; 
and he changed it into—“you have had 
some trouble with Jack. What was it?” 
Richard related his story, feeling a little 
of the proud spirit of martyrdom as he did 
so. There were various opinions expressed; 
hut all agreed in blaming Jack and applaud¬ 
ing Richard. “ It is always the way when 
one tries to do good to such people,” said 
Annie: “you get nothing but abuse in re¬ 
turn. I told you so, Dick, before you began; 
and I only hope you will believe me next 
time.” 
“You speak as though you were rather 
glad of it than otherwise, Annie,” said Miss 
Taylor, who had been sitting in the window- 
recess, engaged in writing. Annie coloured. 
She knew that in her heart she was glad. 
“It is true,” Miss Taylor continued, “that 
every one who tries to imitate the blessed 
