My heart melted in me at this, for the eternal fatherly was sobbing through his voice.
The familiar tones seemed to call Elsie back from her delirium, for she suddenly looked upon us as if we had not been there before.
"Oh, faither, Robin's comin' hame the nicht. Is the lamp kindled in the window? We've baith been wae these mony years, but the mirk'll be past an' by when oor laddie's safe hame wi' us again."
A strange sense of the nearness of the supernatural took possession of me, for Elsie's voice was not the voice of fevered fancy; the fast ebbing tide of life seemed to flow back again, her strength visibly increased, as if she must remain till her Robin had been welcomed home.
In spite of reason, I fell to listening eagerly, wondering if this were indeed the act of God. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with us that the Rebuilder of Bethany's desolated house should still ply His ancient industry?
"Raise me up a little, faither, for I maun watch the gate."
Donald lifted his dying wife with caressing easiness.
"That'll dae; ay, we've baith been wae these mony years, but the mirk is bye.
"'Long hath the night of sorrow reigned,
The dawn shall bring us light.'
The morn is wi' us, Donal', an' Robin's at the gate."