There was much in Mr. Drummond's words that gave Margaret ease of mind, comfort, and pleasure. No fear of want in the home, or that Adam would not be well cared for and eventually recover.
Then this gentleman, head over all at Rutherford's, was not ashamed to call her Adam his faithful friend. Adam, that had reckoned himself of no account from his boyish days upwards! It seemed too wonderful to think of. Of all that Mr. Drummond had said, nothing had so helped to restore Margaret's courage as those two words, "faithful friend."
Well might Margaret feel glad and proud on Adam's behalf, and confident too, that, whatever might be the weakening effect of the injuries he had received, the man who had called him "friend," and who had confessed that his life had been saved at the cost of those very injuries, would not be likely to forget his interests in the future. Nay, on the way to the hospital, she began to build castles on the foundation of Mr. Drummond's words, and in fancy saw her husband in a post of trust with lightened labour suited to his diminished strength, and her lads going in turn to learn their trade at Rutherford's.
[CHAPTER XXIII.]
SUNSHINE AT LAST.
MARGARET was very brave on the road, but at the sight of her husband's bandaged head and pale face, she lost the colour from her own.
"Don't be frightened, Maggie," said Adam, with a smile. "These cuts and humps up and down don't mean much. They tell me I shall get all right again in a bit. Keep a good heart, dear lass. I can do nothing but pray for you all as I lie here; but what a comfort I can do that! God will not forget us. He has taken a big weight off my mind in making me easy about you and the little things at home."
"It was Mr. Drummond's doing. He told me the wages would come regular, just as if you were working," replied Margaret.
"Aye, but God put it into his heart to see to it at once, and not let you and me be troubling ourselves, and wondering what was to be done until pay day came. Lifting the weight straight away was like good physic to me. And I felt so glad, dear lass, that your bit of money wouldn't have to be meddled with because of me."
"I'd give it to the last penny this minute, if it would make you well as you were when you started out to work this morning," said Margaret; and she meant it.