'She's looking differently now,' whispered the home-keeping daughter. She had drawn her handkerchief from her eyes, and was looking with awed solicitude at her mother's face.
'Yes, there's a change coming,' said the married daughter; her large bosom heaved out the words with excited emotion.
'Speak to her of my father—it will bring her mind back again,' they appealed to the minister, pushing him forward to do what they asked.
The minister took the lady's hands in his, and spoke out clearly and strongly in her ear; but he spoke not, at first, of husband or children, but of the Son of God.
Memories that had lain asleep so long seemed slowly to awaken for one last moment.
'You know what I am saying, auntie?' The minister spoke strongly, as to one who was deaf.
There was a smile on the handsome old face.
'Ay, I know weel: "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shallna want ... though I walk through the valley o' the shadow of death."'
'My uncle, and Thomas, and William have gone before you, auntie.'
'Ay'—with a satisfied smile—'they've gone before.'