The words were spoken at the door very softly, but Carol heard.
"Oh, Auntie, I am glad!" he said. "Could Mr. Higgs come here? I should like to speak to him."
"Darling, I am afraid it will excite you to see him. The doctor's orders are that you are to be kept perfectly quiet."
"It won't excite me, Auntie; and what makes me very happy cannot hurt me."
"You may bring Mr. Higgs to see Master Carol since he wishes it so much, Withers."
No one but those who were nursing him had been admitted to the room. The maid was surprised as she took the message, and then brought the old man to the room.
"God bless 'ee, Master Carol, God bless 'ee. Aye, I don't know how to say it often enough, when I think it's all along o' the blessed truth you taught me I'm free of the rheumatiz. I met Farmer Stubbins on my way, and he says, 'Why, Higgs, you're walking along quite spry. What's become o' your rheumatiz?' 'Gone, thank the Lord,' says I, 'never to return.' 'Oh! and what may you have done to get rid of it?' he asks, being crippled himself with the same. 'I ain't done nothing,' I replied. Then I says, 'Farmer Stubbins, you and me was boys together, and we sang in the village choir. Do you mind there's a verse in the Psalms--aye, we've sung it many a time; but we just didn't think o' the words--it was the music we thought about. "He sent His word and healed them." That's just what the Lord has done. He has sent His word and healed me, and He sent it by the mouth of one of His dear children.'"
Carol's face was radiant with joy. Anxiously watching him, Mrs. Mandeville could not fear that the old man's talk could harm him.
Then, after fumbling in his coat pocket, he drew forth a little book carefully folded in soft paper.
"I've got it, Master Carol. It came this morning--the little book you've told me about. My daughter wrote for me. We didn't quite know where to write, so we just addressed the letter: 'Christian Science Church, London,' and a kind lady has sent me this book. It isn't quite new, and she writes that I shall value it more if it costs me something. I am just to pay what I can, and send the money as I am able."