They did so, and were so cheerfully and pleasantly greeted by the dear young invalid that Harry was more than ever convinced that the doctors had sounded a false alarm.
The sisters too grew hopeful, Dorothy also, and they made quite a cheerful little party about the tea table; the maid-of-all-work sitting with Nannette while they all ate.
But not so with the uncles, to whom the same report of the doctors’ opinion had been carried. They came in together just as the young people rose from the table, and though they did not express their fears, something in their air and manner remarked those of the others; Ethel’s especially. She knew they had come to see Nannette, and quickly led the way to her room.
The face on the pillow brightened visibly on their entrance. “Oh, Uncle George and Uncle Albert,” she exclaimed, holding out her hand with a bright, sweet smile, “how good in you to come to see me to-night! I’m so very glad to see you.”
“Are you, dear?” said Uncle George, bending down to kiss the sweet lips. “I think not more glad than we are to see you—our own dear little niece; and if there is anything you want—anything that would add to your comfort—you must tell us so without the least hesitation.”
“Yes, indeed, dear child,” added Uncle Albert, caressing her in his turn, “we are ready and desirous to do anything and everything we can to relieve and make you better.”
“Thank you, dear uncles,” she returned with a very grateful look up into their faces, “you are both so good and kind to me always. I don’t know of anything more that I want, but I love you both so dearly, dearly. Please remember that, whenever you think of me after—after I’m gone.”
“We won’t think of that; we will hope to keep you for a long time, dear little Nan,” returned her Uncle Albert, his voice betraying some emotion.
Nan gave him a look of yearning affection and slipped a hand into his.
“I know I haven’t very long to stay in this world, dear uncle,” she said softly, “but no one need be sorry, because I am not; for oh, it will be so sweet to go and live with the dear Saviour, free from sin and sorrow and pain. And I think it will seem only a very little while till all my loved ones will come to be there with me.”