With almost child-like glee, Ruth handed her basket of violets to Gabrielle as she stepped with her husband from the train to the spot where her own father, mother, and little Jean stood with Dr. Warner, Prissy, and Claude, ready to bid them welcome.
As they drove to the Grove, the bells pealed out. And when Austin and his bride were ensconced in his father's house, he stood up and prayed the Lord's Prayer.
As he uttered the petition so precious to the hearts of more than one of the assembled group:
"Thy kingdom come—"
It seemed caught up and echoed again and again over "hill and dale" by the silvery bells.
[CHAPTER XVIII.]
HOME AT LAST.
"Go labour on while it is day;
The world's dark night is hastening on.
Speed, speed thy work; cast sloth away:
It is not thus that souls are won."
"Men die in darkness at your side,
Without a hope to cheer the tomb:
Take up the torch and ware it wide,
The torch that lights times thickest gloom."
THE evening of the farewell missionary meeting had come round. A soft, sweet summer evening it was. The sun was still shining, causing the slight haze that hung over village and hills to assume a golden hue; but a slight breeze had risen, and was playing very gently amongst the "leafy tide of greenery" which surrounded the little suburban church in which the meeting was to be held. People were already coming from all directions, some from the town of Hereford, others from little hamlets or pleasant farmsteads away in the opposite direction. In little groups they came, fathers, mothers, and children, or friendly neighbours, walking in twos and twos.
At the appointed hour, the little church was filled, and many a whispered blessing arose as the young missionary and his wife, accompanied by the M'Ivors and Dr. Warner, Prissy, Ruth, Archie, and Claude, entered.