"Dorothy, my precious wife, can't you pray that I may go with you or follow very soon? I don't know how to live without you." And the strong man broke down, and kneeling by her side, wept the tears of unrestrained sorrow.
Yet even in this terrible hour, the faith and love of the Father's own Spirit-born child bore her through; and it was her privilege to soothe and comfort where none other dared to inter-meddle.
"We needed a test, my husband. While all was as we wished and liked, it was easy to profess faith in our Lord Jesus. We could not be sure of our ground, we could not know ourselves; but now we know in Whom we believe, and can prove that we stand on the only foundation where God is honoured, and sinners are safe for ever. Oh the blessed peace of sin forgiven through the only atonement,—the blood of the Lamb of God! Oh the sweet joy of seeing His face, and sharing His glory! He will teach it all to you, beloved, when I am gone to Him, if not now. And we must for this little moment of pain and trouble, prove that we trust our Father in the clouds as we thought we did in our happy sunshine. Let us only pray His will be done."
And now Evelyn, in her deep anguish, recalled the faithful words of her black friend Phœbe, and prayed that she might not be a mere "sunshine Christian," to bask in the golden rays of prosperity only, but a faithful and true witness to the upholding strength of an Almighty arm, and the ever present Love which whispers in watchful tenderness to the troubled ones who will listen,—
"Fear thou not, I am with thee, I will strengthen thee, I will help thee."
As the end drew near, Mrs. Falconer became again an inmate at the Moat House, and her loving sympathy shone with rainbow tints upon the cloud, such as she had once passed through herself, and she was best fitted to speak to the broken-hearted master of the light that beamed behind it.
"My love and my blessing to Guy," said the dying to the living mother beside her. "Tell him, whatever changes may befall him in his earthly lot, to hold fast the title deeds of his Eternal Inheritance. I have loved and prayed for him to the last, and would have liked to see him once again before going home."
"My precious friend, Guy's almost mother, you will see him again. Our letters have found him, and Guy is on his way home."
And Guy did arrive in time, and knelt reverently by the bed where his early friend and helper lay dying, and wept bitterly at the sight.
"My dear boy," she said, "since you have come, I must say what is in my heart. Have I read you aright, Guy? Are you proud still?"