"I am afraid I ought not to have asked," said Tom, earnestly; "but as Rose said, we were so hoping you would, as mother told us before we came away, she hoped it would be settled so—"
Aunt Ruth did not gainsay it. She was looking earnestly at the quiet river and the golden trees, lighted up just now by the setting sun.
"I do not mind your having asked me in the least, dears. I have been thinking about telling you about my— about the blow that came upon me last year."
Their faces of sympathy and interest were enough encouragement to her to go on.
"You know I lost my dear father then, and when everything was settled up, instead of my having an income sufficient to keep me, through no fault of his, but because some investments had gone down, it was found there was not nearly enough to keep me—"
Jean showered kisses on the hand she was holding, and Oswald opened his mouth as if to speak, but closed it again, and was silent.
Tom was the first to venture a remark, and his gentle, grave tone was full of sympathy.
"I heard how bravely and sweetly you bore it, auntie—"
"There were many days when I could not; when I felt as if the waves went over my head. You would not understand how many things hinged on that insufficient income of mine; how hopes that had long been cherished were blighted—"
"And yet, auntie," said Rose, "you told us the Lord was your 'Sun and Shield.'"