“It was the fever. Archie was ill with the fever all the winter; and when the spring came he didn’t get strong again, as we had hoped, and the disease settled in his knee. The doctor said if he could have got away into the country he might have grown strong again. And maybe it’s not too late yet,” added the little girl, eagerly. “I’m sure the very sight of the hills, these bonny summer days, might make one strong and well.”
“Well, he’ll get a sight of the hills before very long, I trust; and I don’t despair of seeing him strong and well yet,” said Mrs Blair, hopefully; and the children, reassured by her cheerful words, smiled brightly to each other, as they thought of the happy days in store for them.
Death had visited the homes of both since Mrs Blair and her sister-in-law met last, and to both the meeting was a sad one. Lilias’ mother was scarcely more calm than Lilias had been, as she threw herself into the arms of her long-tried friend. Her words of welcome were few; but the earnest tearful gaze that she fixed upon her sister’s face told all that her quivering lips refused to utter.
When the first excitement of their meeting was over, Mrs Blair was shocked to observe the change which grief and care had made in her sister’s face and form. She looked many years older than when she had last seen her. There was not a trace of colour on her cheek or lip, and her whole appearance indicated extreme weariness and languor. Little was said of the exertions and privations of the last few months; but that these must have been severe and many was to Mrs Blair only too evident. The food placed upon the table was of the simplest and cheapest kind, and of a quality little calculated to tempt the appetite of an invalid; and she noticed with pain that it was scarcely tasted either by the sick boy or his mother.
“You are not well to-night, mother,” said Lilias, looking anxiously at her as she put aside the untasted food.
“Yes, dear, I am as well as usual; but I am tired. The night is close and sultry, and the walk has tired me more than usual. I have not hard work now,” she added, turning to Mrs Blair. “This is not a busy time, and my employer is very considerate; but her place of business is quite at the other end of the town, and it’s not so easy walking two or three miles on the pavements as it used to be among the hills at home.”
“I fear you carry a heavier heart than you used to do in those days,” said Mrs Blair, sadly. “But are you not trying your strength more than you ought with these long walks?”
Mrs Elder might have replied that she had no choice between these long walks and utter destitution for herself and her children; but she said, cheerfully, that it was only since the weather had become so warm that she had found the walk at all beyond her strength, and the hot weather would soon be over now.
“It’s the country air mother wants, as well as me,” said Archie; and the gaze which the weary mother turned upon her sister was as full of wistful longing as the little lad’s had been. After a little pause, she said:
“Sometimes I think it would be great happiness to get away to some quiet country place, where I might earn enough to support myself and them. The din and dust of this noisy town are almost too much for me, sometimes; and I am not so strong as I once was. I think it would give me new life to breathe the air of the hills again. But if such is not God’s will, we must even be content to bide here till the end comes.” And she sighed heavily.