By degrees the colour came again to Harty's cheeks, and his limbs renewed their strength.
One calm Sunday evening, towards the end of June, he was sitting between his sisters, looking out at the evening sky.
"Let us have the Catechism once more," said Lucy; "it will seem like old times."
Rosa and Lucy began as usual together. Harty's voice was with them; and there was a deep solemnity in his manner as he pronounced the words, "Yes, verily, and by God's help so I will; and I heartily thank our Heavenly Father that He has called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord; and I pray unto God to give me His grace that I may continue in the same unto my life's end."
His sisters felt that he spoke from his heart; and there was that joy in their hearts which the angels know over "one sinner that repenteth."
As the summer passed away, the cottage looked cheerful once more, as of old. The children again rambled in the woods or strolled in the orchard, and whenever their voices were heard the tones were pleasant and kindly.
True, they all had faults of character still to overcome, and were sometimes tempted to go astray; but there was in each heart an earnest wish to do right, and a spirit of love and forgiveness that kept them from all variance.
Mrs. Maxwell was still formal and particular; but she now had little cause for complaint, for Harty was so grateful for her watchful care during his illness, that he made many efforts to overcome his careless habits, and in a great measure succeeded.
"The dear boy forgot for once," she would sometimes say, as she hung his cap on the accustomed peg, or overlooked some act of heedlessness; for she felt that he was trying to please her, and she was the more ready to forgive him.
In the trying scenes by Harty's bedside Dr. Vale had been brought near in heart to his children. Now there was no subject on which he could not talk freely to them. He spoke to them of their mother, and told them anecdotes of her blameless life that were treasured up in their young hearts for loving imitation.