"Why, Ma'am, the way it was I had come up to get some linen out of the closet, for I had watched my time; Mrs. Chauncey sees, I was afeard of finding Mr. John here, and I knew he was lying down just then, so "
"Lying down was he?" said Mrs. Vawse. "I did not know he had taken any rest to-day."
"It was very little he took, Ma'am, indeed though there was need enough I am sure; he had been up with his father the live-long blessed night. And then the first thing this morning he was away after Miss Ellen, poor child! wherever she had betaken herself to; I happened to see her before anybody was out, going round the corner of the house, and so I knew when he asked me for her."
"Was she going after flowers then?" said Mrs. Chauncey.
"Oh, no, Ma'am it was a long time after; it was this morning some time. I had come up to the linen closet, knowing Mr. John was in his room, and I thought I was safe; and I had just taken two or three pieces on my arm, you know, Ma'am, when somehow I forgot myself, and forgot what I had come for; and leaving what I should ha' been a-doing, I was standing there, looking out this way at the dear features I never thought to see in death and I had entirely forgotten what I was there for, Ma'am when I heard Miss Ellen's little footstep coming softly upstairs. I didn't want her to catch sight of me just then, so I had just drew myself back a bit, so as I could see her without her seeing me back in the closet where I was. But it had like to have got the better of me entirely, Ma'am, when I see her come in with a lapful of them flowers, and looking so as she did too! but with much trouble I kept quiet. She went up and stood by the side of the bed, just where Mrs. Chauncey is standing, with her sweet, sad, little face it's the hardest thing to see a child's face look so and the flowers all gathered up in her frock. It was odd to see her, she didn't cry not at all only once I saw her brow wrinkle, but it seemed as if she had a mind not to, for she put her hand up to her face and held it a little, and then she began to take out the flowers one by one, and she'd lay a rose here and a rosebud there, and so; and then she went round to the other side and laid the lilies, and two or three more roses on the pillow. But I could see all the while it was getting too much for her; I see very soon she wouldn't get through; she just placed two or three more, and one rose there in that hand, and that was the last. I could see it working in her face; she turned as pale as her lilies all at once, and just tossed all the flowers out of her frock on the bed-foot there that's just as they fell and down she went on her knees, and her face in her hands on the side of the bed. I thought no more about my linen," said Margery, weeping "I couldn't do anything but look at that child kneeling there, and her flowers and all beside her she used to call her sister, and that couldn't be a sister to her no more; and she's without a sister now, to be sure, poor child!"
"She has a brother, unless I am mistaken," said Mrs. Chauncey, when she could speak.
"And that's just what I was trying to tell you, Ma'am. She had been there five or ten minutes without moving, or more I am sure I don't know how long it was, I didn't think how time went when the first thing I knew I heard another step, and Mr. John came in. I thought, and expected, he was taking some sleep; but I suppose," said Margery, sighing, "he couldn't rest. I knew his step, and just drew myself back further. He came just where you are, Ma'am, and stood with his arms folded a long time, looking. I don't know how Miss Ellen didn't hear him come in; but, however, she didn't; and they were both as still as death, one on one side, and the other on the other side. And I wondered he didn't see her; but her white dress and all and I suppose he had no thought but for one thing. I knew the first minute he did see her, when he looked over and spied her on the other side of the bed. I see his colour change; and then his mouth took the look it always did whenever he sets himself to do anything. He stood a minute, and then he went round, and knelt down beside her, and softly took away one of her hands from under her face, and held it in both of his own, and then he made such a prayer! Oh," said Margery, her tears falling fast at the recollection, "I never heard the like! I never did. He gave thanks for Miss Alice and he had reason enough, to be sure and for himself and Miss Ellen I wondered to hear him and he prayed for them too, and others and oh! I thought I couldn't stand and hear him; and I was afeard to breathe the whole time, lest he would know I was there. It was the beautifullest prayer I did ever hear."
"And how did Ellen behave?" said Mrs. Chauncey, when she could speak.
"She didn't stir, nor make the least motion nor sound, till he had done, and spoke to her. They stood a little while then, and Mr. John put the rest of the flowers up there round her hands and the pillow Miss Ellen hadn't put more than half a dozen; I noticed how he kept hold of Miss Ellen's hand all the time. I heard her begin to tell him how she didn't finish the flowers, and he told her 'I saw it all, Ellie,' he said; and he said, 'it didn't want finishing.' I wondered how he should see it, but I suppose he did, however. I understood it very well. They went away downstairs after that."
"He is beautifully changed," said Mrs. Vawse.