The service over, the children begged their aunt's permission to speak to Bob.
Seizing hold of his hands, they led him to his graves.
'Let's come and see them, Mr. Bob, first, and then we'll see your lilies. Do tell us. Have they come out? We have been ill such a long time, and they wouldn't let us come and see you before. Isn't it a lovely day? And hasn't it all come true about the flowers? We never thought England could have such pretty ones. Oh, I hope the winter will never come again!'
'Eh, my dears, how you run on! Old Bob has missed you sure enough, and as for his lilies, well, you shall see them, for 'tis my custom to do the same every year.'
He paused as they came in sight of those grassy mounds, and the children pressed forward with eagerness. There on each mound stood one of the 'ugly flower pots,' but the pot itself was sunk in a bed of moss, and a lovely pure white lily raised its glorious head in the sunshine. Five lilies stood on the five graves, and old Bob, gazing at them through a mist of tears, said in a solemn tone, '"And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season." Life out of death, my dears. That is the lesson of those lilies. The good Lord has never failed to teach me from them every Easter.'
The children stood awed and silent, then Roland said timidly,—
'But this Easter hasn't brought the dead people to life, only the flowers.'
'It has brought a dead soul to life, which is even better.'
The old man and the children turned at the murmured voice; but Miss Sibyl passed them quickly by, and tears were dropping as she went.
Finis.