The old lady was in earnest, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
Hatty rose and wiped them away,—then she kissed Aunt Barbara, tenderly, and said, “We will never think any harm of what dear Aunt Barbara says,—for we all love you, and mean to make you very happy.”
Aunt Barbara now asked Hatty to sing some sweet hymns; and she looked so quiet and peaceful as she listened, that Hatty could not help thinking that Jesus must be very near to old people, who are almost at the golden gate of Heaven.
From that time Hatty was much with Aunt Barbara; and it was touching to see how hard the old lady tried to be gentle and pleasant.
Hatty’s example had a great influence on the other children. Meg learned to skip more softly as she passed Aunt Barbara’s door; and Harry never ate an orange without pattering along to Aunt Barbara’s room, to give her a taste.
In their hearts the children often acknowledged that it was their own thoughtlessness which had brought about much of the old lady’s harshness; and now that they were more gentle and considerate, they found her a dear, kind friend, who had pleasant stories to tell, of days gone by; and with her Hatty had many sweet talks of the loving Saviour, whom they were both striving to serve.
IX.
When Marcus came home from school on Monday afternoon, Hatty was in the garden, picking a bouquet to put in Aunt Barbara’s room. He stepped quietly behind her and put his hands round her waist, before she heard him coming.