"Josephine," he said, touching her lightly on the shoulder, "get up, my dear!" Then, as she obeyed, he made her take one chair, and seated himself on the other. "God has spared your dear father's life," he continued, "and thankfulness for that ought to soften this blow—"
"Oh, Uncle John, indeed I am thankful!" Josephine interposed; "but—but—oh, think what life will be to father without sight? He has always been so active and busy in every way! He isn't a man who likes to take things easily and let others work! And now—and now—oh, it will be dreadful for him!"
"My dear, don't say so! And don't think it! We will pray God to lighten your father's darkness, and I am sure He will. Now, I have not given you your father's message—almost the last words he said to me before I came away. It was this, 'Tell my little girl to remember that all things work together for good to them that love God, and so she mustn't grieve about me more than she can help.' You see, he realized the news of his loss of sight would be a sore blow to you."
"Oh, it has been, Uncle John! I—I haven't been a bit brave—father would be disappointed in me if he knew. But, oh, blindness seems so terrible! It is so hard to think of father—blind!"
Mr. Basset sighed.
"Very hard," he agreed. "But, now," he continued, "we mustn't stay here any longer, for supper's to be early to-night on my account, and you'll want to bathe your face, won't you?"
The two returned to the house together. Miss Basset and May saw them coming from the drawing-room window; and the latter hurried into the hall and went upstairs with Josephine.
"Dear," she whispered, her blue eyes tender with sympathy, "I'm so sorry—so very, very sorry for your father! Donald will be, too, when I write and tell him! Oh, it must be terrible to be blind!"
Josephine drew a quick breath, and assented. Then she told May the message her father had sent her, adding: "I'm going to try to do as he says and not grieve about him more than I can help. Perhaps, after all, the doctors have made a mistake and he may get his sight back after a time. If he doesn't—if it is God's will he should remain blind, then I know God will be with him."
"It is a great thing to feel that," May answered.