"You wouldn't?"
"No. I mean, if little Louey had died before her mother's death, and if another little one had come, and I'd had a choice of the name given me, I wouldn't have called the second 'Louey.' There aren't commonly two of one name in one family, you know. And Louey isn't dead; nor Posie either. They are only gone to another home. I wouldn't name a second child after the first, who had just gone to another home. Would you?"
"I didn't see it that way before." The woman looked thoughtful. "It's true, though. I think I'll take to calling her 'Pet' mostly, instead of Posie, and keep 'Posie' for the other."
"Yes, I would! Keep thinking of her as your own little Posie still—only safe at home, safe in the Good Shepherd's arms, and being taken care of for you till you can go to her. You can go by-and-by, you know—if you will."
The words of quiet confidence passing Mildred's lips cheered her own heart strangely. She had hardly known before how very sure she felt as to Louey and Louey's father and mother being in that other Home, guarded and kept till she should be allowed to join them again. What she said had sprung unbidden to her lips; and when she had so spoken, her whole being cried out in eager assent. It was true; all true. They were only parted for a little while. A restful gladness came over her. She could at last be glad for their sakes.
The woman's eyes filled, and she put out a hand.
"Come again, won't you, some day? Come and see me indoors. I like to hear you talk. We live here—me, and Joe, and Pet. My name's Emma—Emma Stokes. Come and see me any time, only not just as late as this, because Joe 'll be back directly, and I've got to see to him."
"Yes, I will. I'll be sure to come. I won't forget."
Mildred was turning away, but she paused and asked, "Do you know who the elderly gentleman is that I saw just now in the churchyard? It's a kind face, with longish grey hair, quite curly."
"It'll be one of the doctor's patients. He's got a fresh one, come only two or three days ago, and Joe saw him. Joe said he was exactly like that. I hope he isn't very ill, poor gentleman."