“Come, darling,” she said as she wrapped up Ella in a cover-lid and lifted the child in her arms, “come, and let us go.”

Mr. Elder still stood with folded arms looking on.

“Farewell, sir,” she said, turning to him, “you have driven a soldier’s helpless wife and children from the roof that covered them into the open streets, with none other than skies above as a covering.  May God pardon you as I do,” and speaking to the little boy who still clung to her dress, she replied, “Come, darling, let us go.”

Go where?  She knew not, thought not where.  She only knew that she was now homeless.

The clouds looked as serene, the stars twinkled as merrily as ever, and the moon shed as bright a light upon the form of the soldier’s wife, as she walked out of that room, a wanderer upon the earth, as it did on scenes of peace and happiness.  The Ruler of the Universe saw not the desolate mother and her children; thus there was no change in the firmament, for had He gazed upon them at that moment, a black cloud would have been sent to obscure the earth, and darkness would have taken the place of light.

CHAPTER EIGHTEENTH.

THE RESTING PLACE—­ANOTHER VISIT TO MR. SWARTZ.

The mother and her child walked on in silence.  Mrs. Wentworth knew not where to go.  From her heart the harrowing cry of desolation went out, and mingled with the evening air, filling it with the sound of wretchedness, until it appeared dull and stifling.  But she knew not this, for to her it had never appeared pleasant.  For weeks past her cup of misery had been filling, and as each drop of sorrow entered the goblet of her life, so did all sense of what was happy and lovely depart from her heart.  She was, indeed, a breathing figure of all that could be conceived miserable and unhappy.  The flowers that bloomed in the Spring time of her happy years, had withered in the winter of her wretched weeks, and over the whole garden of her life, nothing but the dead and scentless petals remained, to tell of what was once a paradise of affection—­a blooming image of love.

As she walked on she discovered that the child she carried in her arms had fainted.  She paused not for consideration, but observing a light in a small cabin near by, she hurriedly bent her steps towards it, and entered through the half opened door.  It was the home of an aged negro woman, and who looked up much surprised at the intrusion.

“Here, auntie,” Mrs. Wentworth said hastily, “give me some water quickly, my child has fainted.”

“Goodness, gracious, what could ha’ made you bring dem children to dis part of de town dis time o’ night,” exclaimed the old negress, as she hastened to do the bidding of Mrs. Wentworth, who had already placed the inanimate body of Ella on the negro’s humble bed.

The water being brought, Mrs. Wentworth sprinkled it upon the face of the child, but without avail.  Ella still remained motionless, and to all appearances lifeless.