Part 32 (2/2)

'Do you like to go in with me?' said her cousin. 'I do not think you will see anything dreadful.'

'Thank you,' said Lily, 'I would give anything to know about her.'

'How you tremble! but you need not be afraid.'

He knocked at the door, but there was no answer; he opened it, and going to the foot of the stairs, gently called Mrs. Eden, who came down calm and quiet as ever, though very pale.

'How is she?'

'No better, sir, thank you, light-headed still.'

'Oh! Mrs. Eden, I am so sorry,' sobbed Lily. 'Oh! can you forgive me?'

'Pray do not take on so, Miss,' said Mrs. Eden. 'You have always been a very kind friend to her, Miss Lilias. Do not take on so, Miss. If it is His will, nothing could have made any difference.'

Lily was going to speak again, but Mr. Devereux stopped her, saying, 'We must not keep Mrs. Eden from her, Lily.'

'Thank you, sir, her aunt is with her,' said Mrs. Eden, 'and no one is any good there now, she does not know any one. Will you walk up and see her, sir? will you walk up, Miss Lilias?'

Lily silently followed her cousin up the narrow stairs to the upper room, where, in the white-curtained bed, lay the little child, tossing about and moaning, her cheeks flushed with fever, and her blue eyes wide open, but unconscious. A woman, whom Lily did not at first perceive to be Mrs. Naylor, rose and courtsied on their entrance. Agnes's new Bible was beside her, and her mother told them that she was not easy if it was out of sight for an instant.

At this moment Agnes called out, 'Mother,' and Mrs. Eden bent down to her, but she only repeated, 'Mother' two or three times, and then began talking:

'Kissy, I want my bag--where is my thimble--no, not that I can't remember--my catechism-book--my G.o.dfathers and G.o.dmothers in my baptism, wherein I was made a member--my Christian name--my name, it is my Christian name; no, that is not it -

”It is a name by which I am Writ in the hook of life, And here below a charm to keep, Unharmed by sin and strife; As often as my name I hear, I hear my Saviour's voice.”'

Then she began the Creed, but, breaking off, exclaimed, 'Where is my Bible, mother, I shall read it to-morrow--read that pretty verse about ”I am the good Shepherd--the Lord is my Shepherd, therefore can I lack nothing--yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art within me.”

”I now am of that little flock Which Christ doth call His own, For all His sheep He knows by name, And He of them is known.”'

'Let us call upon your good Shepherd, Agnes,' said the pastor, and the child turned her face towards him as if she understood him.

Kneeling down, he repeated the Lord's Prayer, and the feeble voice followed his. He then read the prayer for a sick child, and left the room, for he saw that Lily would be quite overcome if she remained there any longer. Mrs. Eden followed them downstairs, and again stung poor Lily to the heart by thanks for all her kindness.

They then left the house of mourning; Lily trembled violently, and clung to her cousin's arm for support. Her tears streamed fast, but her sobs were checked by awe at Mrs. Eden's calmness. She felt as if she had been among the angels.

'How pale you are!' said her cousin, 'I would not have taken you there if I thought it would overset you so much. Come into Mrs.

Grey's, and sit down and recover a little.'

'No, no, do not let me see any one,' said Lily. 'Oh! that dear child! Robert, let me tell you the worst, for your kindness is more than I can bear. I promised Agnes a blister and forgot it!'

She could say no more for some minutes, but her cousin did not speak.

Recovering her voice, she added, 'Only speak to me, Robert.'

'I am very sorry for you,' answered he, in a kind tone.

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