May Thy will, not ours, be done;
Never leave us till we’re near Thee
In Thy Home, where all are one!”
Then they knelt down, and Darkeye spoke to God in the name of them all, thanking Him for His goodness, and telling Him their wants. When they rose from their knees, the gold thread shone brilliantly, and, like a beam of light, passed out at the door in the direction of the ferry. During the singing of the verses, Wolf seemed for the first time quite overcome. He bent his head, and covered his face with his hands. He then said, in a low voice, when the short service was over, and as if speaking to himself, while all were silent listening to him, “I had a dream. Long, long ago. A carriage—a lady. She was on her knees crying. She had hold of me. Ralph was there and the robbers. I forget the rest.” He rose and looked out of the window, gazing vacantly.
“What can he mean?” asked Eric aside to Darkeye, who was looking tenderly on Wolf.
“Ah! who knows, poor boy! Singing always touches the heart of these wanderers. Perhaps—yes—it may be,” he said, so that Eric alone could hear him, “that he has been taken when a child by Ralph from some rich traveller, and perhaps his mother was killed! He may have been the child of good people. Was that his mother who prayed for him? If so, her prayers are now answered, for her boy will be delivered—poor Wolf!—Wolf, my boy,” said Darkeye, “come and bid farewell to your friend.”
Wolf started as from a dream, and came to Eric.
“Farewell, my kind Wolf, and I hope some day to see you in my father’s house.” The swineherd spoke not a word, but wiped his eyes with the back of his rough hand. “Cheer up, Wolf, for you will be good and happy here.”
“Wolf is happy already, and he will take care of the pigs, or do anything for you all.” He then held out his stick to Eric, and said, “Take it; it is all Wolf has: Ralph has the gold coin.”
“Thank you, good Wolf; but you will require it, and I need nothing to remember you.”