“O Isoult! have I been wronging my God and Father?” she said in a quivering voice. “I never meant to do that.”
“Tell Him so, sweet heart,” answered Isoult.
Isoult thought her husband was right, when, on the following day, she came across the text, “The Lord that hath pleasure in the prosperity of His people.” But in her innocent way she showed it to John, and asked him if he thought it meant that it was a pleasure to the Lord Himself to bestow happiness on His people. John smiled at her, as he often did.
“Sweet heart,” he answered, “doth it please or offend thee, when thou dost kiss Kate, and comfort her for some little trouble, and she stayeth her crying, and smileth up at thee?”
“Why, Jack, ’tis one of my greatest pleasures,” answered Isoult.
Very gravely and tenderly he answered,—“‘As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.’”
On the 17th of June, Isoult Avery wrote in her diary:—
“The church-bells are making music in mine ears as I sit to write. An hour gone, Frances and Mr Monke went forth, no longer twain, but one. God go with her, and bless her, this dear sister of mine heart, and comfort her for all she hath lost—ay, as ‘one whom his mother comforteth!’”
The ink was scarcely dry from this entry when Philippa Basset marched in, with unrecognised step, for her shoes were new.
“Why, Mrs Philippa! your new shoes wrought that I knew not your step,” said Isoult, with a smile.