She bustled around much like a busy sparrow, putting the herbs in the kettle, making sundry mysterious decoctions, and otherwise preparing such things as she thought might be of benefit to the baby.
Jack held Louis meanwhile, and before Aunt Nancy was ready to take him again he asked in a low tone,—
"Do you think there is any chance he would die?"
"I don't believe he is in any danger now, Jack dear; but all of us should think of death as something which will come sooner or later."
The boy was silent for a moment, and then he asked abruptly,—
"You pray for everything you want, why don't you do it now so he'll be sure to live?"
"It wouldn't be right to ask God simply for the child's life."
"Why not?"
"Because He doeth all things well, and we do not know what His purpose may be."
"But there can't be any good come of takin' Louis away from me, when he's all I've got."