'Old Jenny said I should have it,' she repeated, 'and she told me when I was in the middle of it to remember, "Be thou faithful unto death"—I forget the other part.'
There was silence for some moments; then Mrs. Fairfax kissed the upturned face.
'Now run downstairs, little woman, and find Nesta. I will say good-bye now, for I shall not see you again.'
Betty obeyed instantly, and when she had gone, for the first time for many a long month, the sorrowful woman knelt in prayer. 'God help me!' she cried; 'I have been an unfaithful servant, and have refused to turn to Thee for comfort.'
The rest of the afternoon was as delightful as the morning to Betty. She visited the stables and poultry yard; she picked strawberries, and ate them whilst she picked; she gathered a large nosegay of flowers to take home to nurse; and then, at four o'clock, she came in to a delicious little tea in the cool, shady drawing-room. Miss Fairfax was lying on the sofa there, but she seemed to like to hear the child talk, and even condescended to allow Prince to come inside to receive a lump of sugar on his nose, whilst he sat up and begged.
'I've had a lovely day,' said Betty, as Nesta was putting on her hat upstairs in the bedroom.
'And so have I,' responded Nesta, laughing. 'You have been very good company, Betty; I shall be quite dull when you are gone.'
'Have you no one to talk to, when I'm not here? Are you an odd one?'
'Perhaps I may be.'
hy don't you make yourself into a couple with some
one, like Prince and me?'