UNAPPRECIATED.
BUT God had work on earth for Gertrude to do on earth. Some weeks after the funeral, (the body having been placed in a receiving tomb until the weather permitted its removal to Rose Cottage) Edward wrote, begging his sister and her friend to come East, for the remainder of the winter, promising to go for them if Paul could not leave.
For a moment the bright color flashed over the wan cheek at the prospect of returning to scenes so dear; but after some reflection, she concluded not to accept the invitation at present.
"I am sure Paul would miss me," she explained to her friend. "He has been so loving and kind since our little Rose went to her Saviour. Perhaps if I let him see how God sustains me, he himself will ask for support. I know my duty is here now."
She thought by Marion's silence that she was disappointed, and presently added:
"You will go home with me in the spring, dear; and we will take the baby and lay her to rest under the linden trees, where the first violets grow; and the robins sing their earliest songs."
"Yes," murmured Marion, "I will go then."
One day Mrs. Gilbert was surprised by a sight of Gerty's pale face peeping out from her close mourning hat walking into the pastor's study.
"I am going to work again," she said earnestly. "I thought it all over last night, while I was waiting for my husband to come home. It will not make me think less of Rose, if I return to my books. My heart is full of her all the time; and I might be more useful to somebody if I had more knowledge."
"You shall do just as you please, my child," returned Dr. Gilbert, thinking in his heart that God had granted her a knowledge of himself given to but few.