"Where, darling?"
"Up the farm-yard way. There—he is on the gravel-walk. He has stopped; I dare say it is to pull some of the jessamine that grows over the well. Now, fly away, dove! Father's here."
And the next minute a general shout echoed, "Father's here!"
He stood in the doorway, lifting one after the other up in his arms; having a kiss and a merry word for all—this good father!
O solemn name, which Deity Himself claims and owns! Happy these children, who in its fullest sense could understand the word "father!" to whom, from the dawn of their little lives, their father was what all fathers should be—the truest representative here on earth of that Father in heaven, who is at once justice, wisdom, and perfect love.
Happy, too—most blessed among women—the woman who gave her children such a father!
Ursula came—for his eye was wandering in search of her—and received the embrace, without which he never left her, or returned.
"All rightly settled, John?"
"Quite settled."
"I am so glad." With a second kiss, not often bestowed in public, as congratulation. He was going to tell more, when Ursula said, rather hesitatingly, "We have a visitor to-day."