"Doctor, will she live?"
The doctor bit his lip as he gazed upon Aaron's misery.
"Whatever lies in my power shall be done, but human skill and science have their limitations. We are all in God's hands."
And with these words, and a look of compassion, he departed.
Aaron stood motionless awhile. We are all in God's hands! How often has that been said, and how terrible is its import! Human science and skill have done all it is in their power to do, the rest is with God. Aaron reasoned the true meaning away.
"Yes, we are all in God's hands," he murmured; "old and young, rich and poor, the strong and the feeble alike. It is so with one and all. I thank God he did not tell me to prepare for the worst!"
He drew comfort, not from what was said, but from what was not said. He continued to commune with himself.
"How can she be otherwise than weak? And doctors sometimes think it their duty not to look on the brightest side. My Rachel will be spared to me. God will not take her away."
He went up to her. A nurse he had engaged was in the room; she could come for only a week, her services at the end of that time being required elsewhere.
She put her fingers to her lips as he entered.