"Why, Uncle Fred, what is the matter? What has happened?"
"I'll tell you presently. But how come so many here? I thought the picnic was at 'Treasure Island.'"
She nodded cheerfully to Israel, whose face was even more sad than Frederic Kaye's, and gave a rapid history of events. Strangely enough, neither of the two newcomers appeared much interested. It was as if some greater matter absorbed them, and their manner subdued Amy to silence; while the farmer tied old Fanny, and then followed his friend into the front part of the house, quite away from the excited groups surrounding Fayette and his wonderful exhibit.
Once inside the shelter of the passage, Mr. Frederic laid his hand upon Amy's shoulder, and said, very gently:—
"Prepare for a great sorrow, Amy dear. I have just come from the death-bed of our good friend, Adam Burn."
Never till that moment had the girl known how well she loved the saintly old man. Rarely meeting, he had still exercised over her young life one of its most powerful influences, and an influence all for good.
"Oh, Uncle Fred, it can't be. It mustn't be. He was so good, so kind, so—"
"Altogether lovely. Yes, dear, all that. Old Israel, here, needs comfort. Talk to him a little."
So she led the heart-broken Israel into the farthest room, and sitting down beside him persuaded him to speak with her of the one that had passed on, and in the act to find relief. Then she slipped away a moment and found Hallam, who, when he had heard this later news, quietly dismissed the club and brought the happy holiday to a reverent close.
"Land! that makes all such ilk," said Teamster John, pointing to Fayette's glittering heap, "to seem of small account. What's a litter of gold alongside of such as him?"