Jessie's lessons with her clergyman still continued for many weeks after her confirmation, for Tom was preparing her for her first Communion, and the next time he was able to hold a celebration at the little church, Jessie was one of the communicants. Jack's interest over that was far less keen than about her confirmation. It was "something grown-up people stayed for, and children could not," was all that he grasped at present, and Tom left it at that, willing that the teaching about the greatest Sacrament should be given a little later. Very quickly after Jessie's first Communion there came the letter suggesting that it was time for her to go home. She was quite independent now of the doctor's attendance. She showed the letter to Tom when he came to see her, making no comment.
"You'll be glad to go back and see them all again, I expect," but Jessie lifted her great eyes to him quite full of tears.
"Yes—no—" she said. "Of course, I want to see them, but although I've been ill down here, and had a lot of pain, I've had the happiest time of my life. You've taught me a lot, and I've been confirmed and been to Communion, and when I go back I'll see no one p'raps for weeks and weeks. It seems so easy to be good when you are here, but when no one talks to you, and Sunday after Sunday you never get nigh a church, and you work and work and always feel tired it doesn't come so easy."
"But you won't work for a bit yet, Jessie; you're not fit for it."
"It's easier to work than to sit still all day and do nothing, and see mother bustling round with never a minute to herself. Here there is no work I ought to be doing, you see."
Tom sat pondering. "Well, for the present you must try and make yourself content. I quite see that your father and mother, hard-working people, can't afford to keep you here any longer than is necessary——"
"Yes, I was selfish. I'd forgotten that," said Jessie.
"And I want you to think of this, Jessie; that God who has given you so much help lately will still be near you, and able to keep you in the straight path when He takes some of those helps away. I know it's much more difficult for you, but it may help to strengthen your spiritual life, to teach you to stand alone. You'll say your prayers and keep your Bible reading regular."
"Yes," Jessie said, "but it's not easy when there's no one who can tell you what it means when you get puzzled."
"I can't quite tell where I shall go when my time here comes to an end, but I will try and see you sometimes."