A husky sob broke in the faithful servant's voice. She signed to the children to go in, and turned away abruptly herself.
Hand in hand, on tiptoe, they stole to their mother's bedside.
Surely she was better with such a pink colour in her cheeks! She smiled brightly at them, but her voice was weak and low.
'I haven't seen you for two days, darlings! Tell me what you've been doing.'
'I've been in the field with father,' said Bobby, taking one of Mrs. Allonby's hands in his, and very gently raising it to his lips to kiss. 'We've comed to tell you that we are very glad you're going through the gates, but we would like you to ask God to let you come back to us very soon.'
Sudden tears came to Mrs. Allonby's eyes.
'I think you must come to me,' she said almost in a whisper.
'We should like to do that very much, said Bobby bravely. 'True and me are ready, we fink.'
'But, darlings,' went on Mrs. Allonby, 'you must not feel impatient if God does not send for you just yet. I want my little daughter to grow up to be a comfort to her father, to keep the house tidy, do his mending, have comfortable little meals for him, and let him always feel he has a home and a little daughter waiting for him.'
'And me?' questioned Bobby eagerly. 'What must I do for him? I belongs to him besides True.'