"Nellie dear, you must comfort papa. You must remind him that the time will be very short before we meet again. You must do all you can to cheer him. Not at first, dear—" She paused; then gathering breath again, "But after a while; not by forgetting, Nellie, but by remembering—remembering how happy we have been, and how soon we shall meet again. We have not tried to forget your own mother, have we, Nellie?"
"No, indeed; never, dear mamma."
"No; and so I do not want you to banish my name, but think of meeting me and her so very soon—, so very soon!"
The soft voice ceased, and Nellie looked towards Ada in dismay; for a death-like faintness seemed to overspread the features. Ada hastily rose and again administered the restorative.
"Thank you, dear," said her mother, looking upon her, oh, with what love! "Kiss me, Ada."
Ada bent down and gave the required kiss, but retreated again to the table, and took up her old station there.
Mrs. Arundel stretched out her hand for Nellie's, and again began to speak.
"Then there are our dear children. Take care of Ada and Arthur, my elder ones. Guard them, if you can, from the wicked world."
She paused, and looking upwards, seemed to be praying; and Nellie heard the words softly whispered, "I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou wouldst keep them from the evil."
"He will care for them, Nellie. And my little ones, teach them to love Jesus. If I knew I were saying my last word on earth, it would be, 'Teach them to love Jesus.'"