"Not to-day," replied Mrs Herbert. "Wait till we have spoken to my brother; and then, perhaps, we may be able to give her a little consolation, for she will feel dreadfully."
Emily knew that it would have been a relief to have mentioned the subject at once; but she assented instantly to Mrs Herbert's wishes, unwilling to give a moment's unnecessary pain to any one, especially to Amy. The restriction prevented her from finding as much satisfaction in her walk as she might otherwise have done; but to Amy it brought feelings more approaching to pleasure than any she had experienced for the last week; for it seemed like the restoration of the days when Emily was always delighted with her society. "I thought, perhaps, you would come out," she said, "at least in the afternoon; for I am sure you will never feel better while you sit alone in the house."
"It is like a spring day," said Emily. "Who could imagine we were now in the beginning of January."
"It does not seem like a spring day, though," said Amy, sadly. "I never thought before that sunshine could be so melancholy."
"It will be cheerful to you again, soon. When you go back to the cottage with your papa and mamma, you will feel just as you used to do."
"No," said Amy; "nothing will seem as it used to be while you are unhappy."
"I am not going to be miserable," answered Emily, endeavouring to smile. "I know there is not really any cause for it. My darling Rose is far happier than we can imagine; and whilst there are so many duties to be attended to, I hope I shall never sit down idly to repine at the will of God."
"Rose must be happy," exclaimed Amy. "I thought just now I should like to be her."
"We should all like it," said Emily, "if we could only see her as she now is. Yet I believe it is really a great blessing that we do not know more clearly what heaven is like; for if we did we should sometimes be scarcely able to endure our life here, even when it is the most blessed."
"I wish I could know, though," replied Amy; "it would make me so happy to think of going there."