“How delightful that would be, Ned!” she said, smiling through her tears.

“And do you know,” he went on gayly, “it is strongly impressed upon me that we shall find Lester convalescent, and by good nursing and our cheering companionship so help it on that we shall have him a well man in a few weeks.”

“Ah, if it might be so!” she sighed. “‘But He doeth all things well,’ and oh how precious are His promises!  ‘As thy days thy strength shall be.’  ’I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’  ’When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:  when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flames kindle upon thee.’  And then that glorious assurance, ’We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.’  Oh, Ned, our one great need is more and stronger faith!”

“Yes, the faith which worketh by love!  Let me read you that eighth chapter of Romans.  I do not know what could be more comforting,” he said, taking a small Testament from his pocket.

“Thank you,” she said when he had finished.  “Ah, what could be sweeter than those concluding verses!  ’For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!’”

“Elsie, I think if our mother had never done anything else for her children,” remarked Edward earnestly, “they would owe her an eternal debt of gratitude for storing their minds as she has with the very words of inspiration.”

“Yes, ’the entrance of Thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple.’  ’The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.’”

Ben came to the door.  “Dey says dey’s goin’ to fotch up de anchor and start de wessel, Marse Ed’ard.  Don’t you and Miss Elsie want for to see it?”

“Yes, sister, do you not wish to see the last you may, for the present, of your dear native land?” queried Edward in a lively tone. “’Twill take but a moment to don hat and shawl, and I shall be proud to give you the support of my arm.”

“Yes, I do,” she said, rising with alacrity and hastily making the needful preparations.

Ben preceded them to the deck and found comfortable seats for them in the front rank of those who were there on the same errand.

Elsie’s tears began to fall as she saw the shore receding.

“Oh,” she murmured very low and sadly, leaning on her brother’s shoulder and clinging more closely to him, “shall we ever return? ever see again the dear land of our birth and all our loved ones left behind?”

“There is every reason to hope so, dear sister,” he whispered in return.  “A voyage to Europe is not the great and perilous undertaking it used to be; and we are under the same protecting care here as on land.  ’And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee, he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee:  fear not, neither be dismayed.’”