The little girls only clung closer to her dress; but she was glad to believe that they already knew the way, and were walking in it.
Dolly gazed at her with awe-struck eyes.
"Jesus is the way. If you ask Him, He will take you by-and-by to be where you will see dear mamma again."
Then she tenderly kissed the baby, and pointing upwards told him "that is where Jesus lives, and where mamma lives;" and then, telling them all to be very quiet, she left the room.
As she crossed the landing to her own chamber, some of the weight of responsibility which would rest on her young shoulders came over her.
Ada was there, lying across the foot of her bed, with her face downwards; she went up to her, and stood silently by her side. At last she put out her hand and softly smoothed her hair.
Ada took no notice whatever of her touch; and Nellie left the room to go downstairs, the heavy feeling at her heart intensified by being unable to give any consolation.
Nellie had been called into her father's study, and had received instructions, which had seemed to seal her desolation.
To arrange for dresses without consulting her mamma, brought overwhelmingly to her mind the extent of her loss. But there was no time to dwell on it. She felt the only thing to be done was to go through each duty as it came up, without thinking of anything beyond it.
Arthur hung about by her side, anxious to solace her if it might be possible, going backwards and forwards to the nursery, and ready to help her in any way. He loved to dwell on all the details of his dear mother's death; and Nellie and he, and little Tom, found comfort in recalling her loving life, and peaceful end.