Julie took her sister in her arms.
“Hester, darling, have you decided?”
“Yes, Julie.”
“You and Kenneth will come to-morrow with Philip and me?”
“Yes, Julie.”
“Oh! Hester, my blessed, blessed girlie, it is the most beautiful thing in the world!”
There was very little sleep for the girls that night. They sat for a long while in the window-seat up in their room where the scent of the honeysuckle came drifting in, talking softly of the past and laying plans whereby their happiness should go out into the world like a strong search-light to illumine dark places.
“It is not always those commonly called the poor who are most in need, Hester. It is the refined, sensitive people who have seen better days, who suffer most. And we have learned, too, dear, how super-sensitive adversity makes one. I am glad we know these things, aren’t you, even though the learning of them nearly tore our hearts out? It has broadened and developed us and is going to make us helpful women in the world.”
“And oh! Julie dear,” replied Hester, “isn’t it beautiful to think how we shall be able, both of us, through our—our husbands,” stumbling over the word, “to do things for people. Little things and big things to lighten people’s burdens and give them courage, just as so many times courage was given to us.”
“Yes, darling. God is putting the power in our hands—it is for us to use it wisely.”