"'But it's very nice for the little brothers, dear mother; isn't it?' he said.
"And that very night the Lord Jesus came for him; and now I must try to remember what he said, that it's 'very nice' for him. And, Peter," she said, "I shall go to him, though he will not return to me."
My poor mistress could say no more, but hastened into the house, and I went away to look for Bagot.
From this time, it was part of my daily work to carry the basket for my mistress when she went to feed Master Reggie's children, and she often, at these times, talked to me about him. She never spoke of him as dead, but as living—living in the Father's home, happy and well attended, but still loving her as much as ever, and ready at the King's call to go in the King's train to meet her, and to welcome her when her waiting time should be done.
[CHAPTER XIV.]
AFTER TWENTY YEARS.
IT is twenty years since all this happened, and yet the twenty years have passed away so fast that I can hardly realize that they have gone. I can scarcely bring myself to believe that I have lived so many years in this pretty cottage with my dear old friend, Jem Bagot. Our life here has been so peaceful, so far removed from the bustle and constant stir of the busy town, so little has happened to mark the time, or to make any break in our quiet lives, that the days and weeks and months and years have gone by as swiftly as I think days and weeks and months and years could possibly go.
When I had been three years at Grassbourne, my mistress offered to keep her promise, and to find me a situation as footman; but I was so happy here, and Bagot and his wife were good enough to say they were so fond of me, that my mistress very kindly said I might still stay on with her, if I would like to do so.