She listened in silence, then said,—
'Now I want to hear you pray. Don't look so frightened. You pray with the old villagers you go to see, and I have a soul as much as they have. Kneel down and pray for me.'
I knelt, and when I rose she had tears in her eyes.
'You are a dear little thing!' she said in a softened tone; 'one would think my welfare was as precious to you as your own, to hear you! Now, that is enough for to-day. Suppose you leave me, and go out into the garden for a breath of fresh air. You can send Susan to me.'
I stooped and kissed her before I left, saying softly,—
'Dear Miss Rayner, I know you will find Him if you seek Him. He is very near you now.'
We had several talks together after that. I could not help thanking God again and again for having given me this bit of work in the midst of my own trouble. And it was touching to see how, with all her power of intellect and will, Miss Rayner's illness had humbled her like a little child. She seemed to realize deeply her sin in rejecting the truth for so long.
It was when she was beginning to sit up a little that one day she turned to me and said, 'I have not asked after Mr. Stanton once yet. When are you going to Cobham Hall?'
She evidently knew nothing of what had taken place, and was greatly surprised when I told her all.
'Do you mean to say you have never heard from him since he left?' she exclaimed.