“I woke up and came myself,” I said. “Parker did not disturb me.”
“Well, go back to bed now. You will serve me in the morning?”
I tried to say something about his not being fit to get up, but he waved it aside.
“You cannot understand,” he said quietly. “That is my one hope and escape. Joy cometh in the morning. There are many souls here and elsewhere that are waiting for that joy, and I must not disappoint them. And I too,” he added softly, “I too look for that joy. Go now, and we will meet in the morning.” And he smiled at me so gently that I got up and went, feeling comforted.
After I had been in bed a little while, I heard the priest’s door open and close again, and then Parker tapped at my open door and came in.
“I have left him quiet, sir. I do not think he will sleep, but he would not let me stay.”
“Have you ever seen him like this before?” I asked.
“Never quite like this, sir,” he said; and as I looked at the old servant I saw that his eyes were bright with tears, and his lips twitching.
“Well,” I said, “we have both heard strange things to-night. Your master whom you love is in the hands of God.”
The old servant’s face broke into lines of sorrow; and then the tears ran down his face.