Hollowmell | Page 3

that something very
pressing had compelled Mabel to leave earlier than usual, and trusted
her too completely to connect it in any way with herself.
After dinner they proceeded with their lessons, which seemed to be got
over in a much shorter time when the two worked together, than when
they each worked separately, so that they were soon free to settle down
before the fire in Minnie's room, and begin the subject which had been
on Minnie's mind for almost four days now.
"Well, Minnie, what is it?" asked Mabel at last, for Minnie seemed to
be at a loss how to begin, now that the time had come. She walked over
and sat down on the rug, leaning her head on Mabel's knee, and began,
"you know, Mab, dear, that it isn't very long since I found out that there
was anything better in life than laughing and dancing and enjoying
one's self in the way the world calls enjoyment. I told you all about it
before, how Mr. Laurence told me about the happiness of being a
Christian, and living for something beside my own pleasure, and how
since that I have felt that great happiness myself. I can't talk very much

about it, because it is so new--and so--I can't find a word for it, but I
think you'll know what I mean--that I don't quite understand it myself,
but I feel it all the same, and it has made me another creature. I don't
think anybody would believe that who only sees the outside of me, but
it is quite true; I have different thoughts and feelings and wishes about
everything, and feel altogether as if I had newly awakened and could
never go to sleep again."
Minnie had rattled on in her usual impulsive fashion, and now pulled
up suddenly, for Mabel's arm tightened round her arm with a
convulsive clasp, and her head dropped on her shoulder in a perfect
agony of weeping.
Minnie felt a good deal of surprise as well as alarm at this sudden
outburst, for she had never seen Mabel so much overcome before, and
just now it seemed so altogether unaccountable; she concluded,
however, that it would be useless to attempt any solution of the mystery
until the storm had somewhat spent itself; she did not, therefore,
trouble her with any questions or attempts at consolation, but allowed
her to cry on unrestrainedly, only changing her position, that she might
the better render her all the support in her power, and convey to her by
every means but that of speech her sympathy and concern. At length
her sobs began to be less convulsive, and her tears to come less freely,
and soon she was able to speak and assure her friend that she need not
be under any apprehension concerning her, and that she would soon be
able to tell her the cause of her grief.
Minnie waited with great patience for some minutes before she would
allow Mabel to speak again, and then, Mabel protesting that it was all
over, and that she was quite calm again, began with brimming eyes,
notwithstanding her protest. "It must have been the narration of your
happiness that caused me to lose control of myself, I felt the contrast
between it and my own state of mind so keenly, that I was quite
overcome--Oh, Minnie, I would give every drop of mere earthly
happiness to feel for one hour, what you have described!"
Minnie looked at her in astonishment. "Why, Mabel, of course you
never needed to feel such a thing--you have known about these things

all your life!"
"Ah, yes!" replied Mabel, "I have known about them, as you say, but I
have never known them. You know one may know all about a thing or
person, and yet never know it or him by direct experience."
"That is true," said Minnie, reflectively. "But why did you always try to
interest me in them, when you really felt no good effect from them
yourself?"
"Please don't ask me that!" entreated Mabel, "It would be worse than
useless for me to try to explain it, but it is a fact that I have never
known such a change as you talk about--as what we call conversion
must surely imply--so I have never been converted, and that is the
reason, I suppose, why all my efforts to interest you were always vain.
How could I hope to lead you to a Saviour I could not see myself?"
Minnie was silent. She could not understand Mabel's difficulty, and
therefore did not feel able to discuss it. She could not say anything to
comfort or console her either, from her own short experience, because
she felt, notwithstanding all that she had just heard, that Mabel