"But mother," he said cheerfully, "you haven't told us the way to escape disappointments yet; I didn't understand it. For aught I see, everybody has his share. Even you — and I don't know who deserves them less — even you, I am afraid, are disappointed, in me."
It was as much as he could do, evidently, to say that; his eyes were brilliant through fire and water at once. She lifted up her head, but was quite silent.
"How is it, mamma? or how can it be?"
"I must take you to the Bible again, Rufus."
"Well, ma'am, I'll go with you. Where?"
She turned over the leaves till she found the place, and giving it to him bade him read.
"'Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate, day and night.
"'And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in due season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.'"
Rufus stopped and stood looking on the page.
"Beautiful words!" he said.