"I'm so glad you're so much better, Aunt Lizzie," she whispered softly. "You'll soon get strong now."
"I hope so, Mavis. My illness has spoiled your holidays, I fear. You must have had a very dull time."
"A very sad, anxious time," Mavis said gravely; "but never mind—that's past."
"And you will soon forget it," her aunt remarked, with a faint smile.
"Oh no, Aunt Lizzie, I'm not likely to do that! But I'd so much rather look forward to your being well again. We were all so wretched when you were so terribly ill, and now God has made us happy and glad. Why, I feel I could sing for joy!"
"I think you rarely find difficulty in doing that, Mavis; you are so light-hearted."
"Not always, Aunt Lizzie; but I do try to be."
"Why?" Mrs. John inquired, in surprise.
"Because Jesus said, 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,'" Mavis answered, seriously. "I try not to be troubled or afraid," she continued; "but it's very, very hard not to be sometimes. I found that when mother went away; nothing seemed to matter much when we were together, but after she'd gone—oh, then it was different. I felt my heart would break, it ached so badly, but—are you sure I am not tiring you, Aunt Lizzie?"
"No; I like to hear you talk. Go on—tell me all you felt when your mother went away."