Connie began. How full and rich her voice had grown! She remembered that time when, out in the snow, she had sung—little Ronald keeping her company:
"Here we suffer grief and pain,
Here we meet to part again,
In Heaven we part no more.
Oh! that will be joyful,
When we meet to part no more."
The words of the hymn were sung to the very end, Giles listening in an ecstasy of happiness.
"Now, 'Happy Land,'" he said.
Connie sang:
"There is a Happy Land,
Far, far away,
Where saints in glory stand,
Bright, bright as day."
The second hymn was interrupted by the arrival of a messenger, who brought a bottle of medicine and a large basket. The contents of the basket were laid on the table—a little crisp loaf of new bread, a pat of fresh butter, half a pound of tea, a small can of milk, a pound of sugar, half-a-dozen new-laid eggs, and a chicken roasted whole, also a bottle of port-wine.
"Now then," said Connie, "look, Giles—look!"
The messenger took away the basket. Even Giles was roused to the semblance of appetite by the sight of the tempting food. Connie quickly made tea, boiled an egg, and brought them with fresh bread-and-butter to the child. He ate a little; then he looked up at her.
"You must eat, too, Connie. Why, you be white and tired!"