For several days Elsli continued in a critical state; but they were happy days.  Mrs. Stanhope never left her, and it seemed as if she could not do enough to show her tenderness.  Clarissa was devoted to her comfort, and brought her every day news from her friends in the fisherman’s hut, whom Mrs. Stanhope had already begun to help in the wisest and kindest ways.  The poor family sent many messages of love and gratitude to their little helper, and these Clarissa delivered; but she did not tell Elsli how unhappy they were at the thought of losing her, nor how the father said:—­

“I knew she was an angel from heaven; and we could not expect her to stay long with us.  Now she is going back again where she belongs.”

The children at Rosemount were allowed to come for a few minutes at a time into Elsli’s room.  They were charged to bring only cheerful faces, and not to trouble her with their grief.  They brought her flowers from the garden, and sometimes they read to her from the books she loved.  Fani especially was very tender and devoted, and Elsli took great satisfaction in having him with her.

Every interview was precious, since the time for them was probably so short.

But Elsli did not die.  The complete repose of the sick-room, and the devoted care she received, but perhaps more than all that the new happiness that had come into her heart in Mrs. Stanhope’s awakened affection and her own response to it, and the fresh hopes which sprang from seeing how large a place she held in the lives of those about her, and the happy prospect of being useful and valuable without need of concealment or anxiety,—­all these things helped in her recovery; and when, in a few weeks, she again came down stairs and out into the sunny garden, it was with new eyes that she looked upon life and its duties and opportunities, and she thanked God that he had permitted her to stay upon his beautiful earth, and help his children here.  For she saw that the earth is the Lord’s as well as the heavens, and while she still looked forward to the happy life of Paradise with hope and confidence, she no longer undervalued the joys and privileges which surrounded her here.

As soon as Elsli was fairly convalescent, the doctor’s children went home.  Their parents could spare them no longer.  Mrs. Stanhope bade them good-bye with the assurance that she should depend on having another visit from them next year, so that it was plain that she felt no serious displeasure with them.  They were grateful for her forgiveness, and fervently resolved that next year she should have nothing to forgive.

The three travellers went rapidly on towards their own dear home.  At the last station their father’s carriage was waiting for them.  A shout of joy hailed them.  It was Rikli.  She had been allowed to come to meet them.  It seemed that night as if they would never be tired enough to go to bed, they were so excited with joy at seeing father and mother and aunty, and at feeling themselves at home again.  Questions and answers were all poured out together, interrupted by frequent exclamations of affection and of joy at being all together once more.  There seemed no chance of quiet or rest that night.