Thus setting aside her care, and asking her Father in heaven to give her strength and guidance, the widow went briskly to work again, and by the time Robin returned, was quite ready to set forth on her errand.
"'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,'" was the reassuring whisper she seemed to hear as she walked along, though fears innumerable would crowd into her heart. "He has never failed me yet; and I will not distrust Him now, for He has promised to help me."
Meeting her kind old friend Jonathan at the gate, she told her tale to him first.
"The master is just gone up the avenue," he said. "Follow him at once, and you will be able to speak to him."
Mrs. Campbell obeyed, and ten minutes after found herself sitting waiting in the business room, where the gentleman did not keep her long in suspense.
"Well," said he cheerily, "good-evening, Mrs. Campbell. Nothing wrong, I hope? But it is unusual to see you so far from town at this hour."
The poor woman then told her story without interruption; and as soon as she had finished, her patient listener looked at her with a kind smile, saying—
"I do not think you need distress yourself. I was coming to-morrow to tell you something that I think you will be glad to hear, and which will quite set your heart at rest about the landlord. The new cottage has been built for you and your children. You are to live there rent free as our laundress."
"Beg pardon, sir?" said Mrs. Campbell, in her sudden joy believing she could not have heard aright.
Robin's kind master repeated his speech, adding, "We want you to move into your new quarters next week."