The stranger rose, and they walked together to the tent, where the woman and child awaited them. The stranger took off his cap--it was in tatters--and looked at the woman and her child, and stooped and kissed the little girl, who put her hand on his face, and said pityingly:
'Poor man! Are you hungry?'
'Yes, my child.'
That the man and the woman should turn their backs suddenly upon him and make a perfectly unnecessary clatter, and become unnecessarily busy, touched the stranger's sensitive heart, and the unspoken words were in his mind, 'God be thanked! There is much good in the world.'
More precious than gold, purer than diamonds, are these sweet and delicate ways.
'Now, David,' cried the woman briskly, 'supper's ready.'
And David and his wife, notwithstanding that they had made their meal an hour ago, sat down with the stranger, and ate and drank with him. When supper was over, David said:
'We'll not talk to-night; you must be tired. You slept out last night, I suppose?'
'Yes.'
'And without a blanket, I'll bet!'