“How fast he sleeps!  Poor father!  I should have come before and made it pleasant for him.”

As she spoke, Nan lifted up the head bent down upon his breast, and kissed his pallid cheek.

“Oh, John, this is not sleep!”

“Yes, dear, the happiest he will ever know.”

For a moment the shadows flickered over three white faces and the silence deepened solemnly.  Then John reverently bore the pale shape in, and Nan dropped down beside it, saying, with a rain of grateful tears,—­

“He kissed me when I went, and said a last ‘good night!’”

For an hour steps went to and fro about her, many voices whispered near her, and skilful hands touched the beloved clay she held so fast; but one by one the busy feet passed out, one by one the voices died away, and human skill proved vain.  Then Mrs. Lord drew the orphan to the shelter of her arms, soothing her with the mute solace of that motherly embrace.

* * * * *

“Nan, Nan! here’s Philip! come and see!”

The happy call reechoed through the house, and Nan sprang up as if her time for grief were past.

“I must tell them.  Oh, my poor girls, how will they bear it?—­they have known so little sorrow!”

But there was no need for her to speak; other lips had spared her the hard task.  For, as she stirred to meet them, a sharp cry rent the air, steps rang upon the stairs, and two wild-eyed creatures came into the hush of that familiar room, for the first time meeting with no welcome from their father’s voice.

With one impulse, Di and Laura fled to Nan, and the sisters clung together in a silent embrace, far more eloquent than words.  John took his mother by the hand, and led her from the room, closing the door upon the sacredness of grief.

* * * * *

“Yes, we are poorer than we thought; but when everything is settled, we shall get on very well.  We can let a part of this great house, and live quietly together until spring; then Laura will be married, and Di can go on their travels with them, as Philip wishes her to do.  We shall be cared for; so never fear for us, John.”

Nan said this, as her friend parted from her a week later, after the saddest holiday he had ever known.

“And what becomes of you, Nan?” he asked, watching the patient eyes that smiled when others would have wept.

“I shall stay in the dear old house; for no other place would seem like home to me.  I shall find some little child to love and care for, and be quite happy till the girls come back and want me.”

John nodded wisely, as he listened, and went away prophesying within himself,—­

“She shall find something more than a child to love; and, God willing, shall be very happy till the girls come home and—­cannot have her.”

Nan’s plan was carried into effect.  Slowly the divided waters closed again, and the three fell back into their old life.  But the touch of sorrow drew them closer; and, though invisible, a beloved presence still moved among them, a familiar voice still spoke to them in the silence of their softened hearts.  Thus the soil was made ready, and in the depth of winter the good seed was sown, was watered with many tears, and soon sprang up green with the promise of a harvest for their after years.