The lawyer was silent; he seemed afraid to trust his voice. At last he said:
"My child."
And his voice was so pathetic, that Redbud felt the tears come to her eyes.
"Pardon me for making you grieve, Mr. Rushton," she said, softly, "it was very thoughtless in me. But will you let me speak? She is in heaven, you know; the dear Savior said himself, that the kingdom of heaven was full of such."
The lawyer's head bent down, and a hoarse sigh, which resembled the growl of a lion, shook his bosom.
Redbud's eyes filled with tears.
"Oh, do not grieve, sir," she said, in a tremulous voice, "trust in
God, and believe that He is merciful and good."
The poor stricken heart brimmed with its bitter and corroding agony; and, raising his head, the lawyer said, coldly:
"Enough? this may be very well for you, who have never suffered—it is the idle wind to me! Trust in God? Away! the words are fatuitous!—ough!" and wiping his moist brow, he added, coldly, "What a fool I am, to be listening to a child!"
Redbud, with her head bent down, made no reply.