She had heard Christ proclaimed as the Great Physician, she had spoken of Him as such to her brother, but had all the while been unconscious of her own need of His healing touch. But now, how precious was the truth that Christ could make her whole! But would He? Was there any doubt of His willingness to pardon and cleanse?
No! All who touched Him had been made whole. They had but to come and be healed. Not one had been rejected as unworthy of the blessing who sought it at His hands. And He was the same Saviour now as then, "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever."
Blessed words! What comfort they brought to Ellen's troubled heart! Trembling, yet believing, she approached in spirit the Saviour, and laid her fingers on the hem of His garment, when, lo! Her faith was rewarded, and she felt in herself that she was whole of her infirmity. To grief and terror succeeded peace and quietness, and a happy sense of forgiveness.
Tranquility of mind produces a corresponding state of body. Ellen became less sensible of pain, and, as the light of morning broke, she lost all consciousness of it, in refreshing slumber.
On the following afternoon, much to Ellen's delight, Miss Graham entered the ward.
The faces of all the patients brightened at her entrance, for the doctor's daughter was a frequent visitor there, and no one was more welcome. She passed between the rows of beds, having a smile and kind word for the occupant of each as she passed, and made her way to the corner where Ellen lay.
"I was so sorry to hear of your accident yesterday," she said, as she seated herself by Ellen's side. "See, I have brought a few flowers to cheer you."
As she spoke she placed in the girl's hands a lovely little bunch of violets and snowdrops. Ellen knew not how to thank her. The sight of the delicate white blossoms and sweet-scented violets brought tears to her eyes, for they were like a breath of the old home-life, from which she seemed now so far removed. They recalled the early spring days, when, with her little brothers and sisters, she had wandered in the fields and lanes which lay around her home, looking for the first snowdrop or searching for the hidden violet, whose presence was betrayed by its perfume.
"Oh, thank you, thank you! How beautiful they are!" she said, as soon as she could speak. "It is almost as good as being at home, to see these flowers."
But the sigh in which Ellen's remark ended, showed that the almost signified a vast difference after all.