The tears rolled down Margaret's cheeks as she motioned for Sarah to come near her; then she whispered, "I did not think you would come after all. You are kind. I don't deserve it, but you are fond of the children, and they love you, poor things! And you'll be sorry about my Adam."
"I'm sorry for him and for you, Mrs. Livesey—for one as much as the other, I was going to say, but I think I'm most sorry for you, because it is harder for you to know of his hurt and the pain he will have, than to bear pain yourself. But what a mercy you are not a widow with a troop of little orphans round you at this minute!"
"Aye, lass," said Richard Evans. "And it seems to me that the first thing we should do is just to say a word of thanksgiving to God for Adam's spared life, and a prayer for poor Jim's widow and little ones."
This was a new thought to Mrs. Livesey, who was already turning her mind from the contemplation of what might have been, to the consideration of the very real though lesser trouble she had to face. She was, however, ready enough, first to listen to; then to join in the words of thanksgiving which Richard offered on behalf of her husband, herself and the children, for the precious life still spared, and the hope of restored health and strength. She could feel for her neighbour too, for in that terrible moment when she thought the worst had happened, had she not experienced in little what Jim's wife must bear through the long years of probable widowhood and the struggle for daily bread? She heard Richard's prayer for her and her children, that God would bless and cheer them, and make even this trouble the means of bringing them closer to Him, and teaching them to love and serve Him better.
"Better?" thought Margaret. "I've never loved God a bit. I don't know Him well enough for that. I've grumbled often enough, when things have gone wrong, and blamed Providence for it; but if they've gone right, I've mostly taken the credit to myself."
Then Margaret heard Richard asking that God would bless what was being done for Adam at the hospital, and give him peace of mind, and freedom from anxiety, which might hinder him from speedy recovery.
"Well," thought Margaret, "there's no harm in asking that, though one mostly thinks that doctors have a deal to do with such cases. A bad one will set a joint so as it will be stiff for life, like Jane Middleton's elbow was. She could never raise her hand to her head through that doctor's blundering."
"All good things come of Thee," Richard was saying, and Margaret's thoughts came back once more, so that she heard the old workman thank God for the wisdom and skill that He had bestowed, and by which the doctors had found out the means of lessening pain and prolonging precious lives. He ended by commending them all to the loving hands of the Great Physician both of souls and bodies, then rose from his knees with the bright look on his face which ever comes when the servant of God has held communion with his Divine Master.
Very few moments had been thus occupied, for time was precious, and there was much to be done. The children must be cared for, and all the little household matters attended to, for their sakes. These things, however, Sarah would undertake.
"You'll be free to go and see Adam, Mrs. Livesey," said Richard; "but if you'll take an old man's advice, you'll try and eat a bit before you start. It's a long while since breakfast, and after that faint turn, you had you cannot be fit for much. You'll want all your strength to keep a bright face and a cheery word for Adam. He's sure to be a bit down in the mouth, as one may say, and only natural. Now I'll leave you and Sarah, and I'll just get to know how Adam is going on, and then come back here for you, if the doctors will let you see him."