This was not quite intelligible to the children; but they shivered a little at the gloom in the old man's tone, and Olive's blue eyes filled with tears.
'I don't want to stay here in winter,' she said; 'let's go back to India, Roly!'
Roland stood with knitted brows considering.
'Who makes the winter?' he asked. 'Does the devil? Because God only makes beautiful things, doesn't He?'
Old Bob raised his hat, and looked up into the grey autumnal sky with a smile.
'Nay, little master, the devil wouldn't have wished to give us such a lesson as winter teaches us. 'Tis God Almighty in His love that gives us winter, to try our faith and patience, and teach us hope's lessons. If we had no winter, we should have no Easter, and 'tis well worth the waitin' for!'
'And does everything die in winter?' asked Roland in a mournful voice.
His question was unanswered, for Miss Amabel appeared on the scene.
'Oh, you children!' she exclaimed breathlessly. 'What a chase I have had after you! If I had known you were in such safe quarters, I would have spared myself the trouble of looking for you. Have they been here long, Bob?'