"I must be takin' th' word in t' Richard though 'tis a sore trial t' do it," said Douglas, preparing at once to go. "I'll be findin' un on th' trail. Keep courage, Mary, until we comes. 'Twill be but four days at furthest," he added as he was going out of the door.
Ed left immediately after for his home, to spend a day or two before returning to his inland trail, and Mrs. Gray and Emily and Bessie were left alone again in a gloom of sorrow that approached despair.
That night long after the light was out and they had gone to bed, Mrs. Gray, who was still lying awake with her trouble, heard Emily softly speak:
"Mother."
She stole over to Emily's couch and kissed the child's cheek.
"Mother, an' th' wolves killed Bob, won't he be an angel now?"
"Bob's livin'—somewheres—child, an' I'm prayin' th' Lard in His mercy t' care of th' lad. Th' Lard knows where un is, lass, an' th' Lard'll sure not be forgettin' he."
"But," she insisted, "he's an angel now if th' wolves killed un?"
"Yes, dear."
"An' th' Lard lets angels come sometimes t' see th' ones they loves, don't He, mother?"