The boy saw his mother for a few minutes, and her self-control gave way as she flung her arms around his neck, and wept scalding tears of weariness and grief.
"Oh, Eric," she cried, "I fear I am adding to your distress, but she is very, very ill, and we can do nothing for her!"
"But God can, mother," he reminded her tenderly, his voice almost choked with emotion.
"Ah, yes!" she replied. "He is mindful of His own, and our Joy belongs to Him, we know. We can only pray for her, Eric, and leave her in God's hands."
Eric returned dejectedly to the Moat House; and informed the anxious household there that Joy was no better. Celia received the news in silence; but her pale, troubled face, with its dark-rimmed blue eyes, appealed to her brother's sympathy far more than had her noisy weeping of the night before. Indeed, the little girl looked heart-broken, but her tears had apparently all been shed.
Much to the young people's surprise, Sir Jasper sent them a message to join him at breakfast in the dining-room. They found him seated at the table when they entered the room, waiting for them. He looked very grave and anxious, but unusually alert.
"Good morning!" he said, nodding to them in turn. "Celia, my dear, be good enough to pour out the coffee—no sugar for me, thank you. I'm sorry you have not brought home better news of Joy, Eric. I could not sleep for thinking of the child, so I thought I might as well get up to breakfast."
"I don't suppose anyone slept much last night," Celia replied, sighing. "I know I did not."
"Ah!" the old man exclaimed, glancing sympathetically at the little girl's wan countenance. "I am going to the Vicarage after breakfast," he announced, presently. "I have ordered Gay to bring around the pony carriage and drive me. I shall not be satisfied until I have seen Margaret, for if Joy is no better she must have further advice, and no time must be wasted. Meanwhile, you two had better keep each other company at home."
As soon as breakfast was over, Gay brought round the pony carriage to the front door, and Sir Jasper took his departure.