"How kind she is," said Ellen; "how many friends I find everywhere. It seems to me, John, that everybody almost loves me."
"That is a singular circumstance! However, I am no exception to the rule, Ellie."
"Oh, I know that!" said Ellen, laughing. "And Mr. George?"
"Mr. George is well."
"How much I love him!" said Ellen. "How much I would give to see him. I wish you could tell me about poor Captain and the Brownie, but I don't suppose you have heard of them. Oh, when I think of it all at home, how I want to be there! Oh, John! sometimes lately I have almost thought I should only see you again in heaven."
"My dear Ellie! I shall see you there, I trust; but if we live we shall spend our lives here together first. And while we are parted, we will keep as near as possible by praying for and writing to each other. And what God orders, let us quietly submit to."
Ellen had much ado to command herself at the tone of these words and John's manner, as he clasped her in his arms and kissed her brow and lips. She strove to keep back a show of feeling that would distress and might displease him. But the next moment her fluttering spirits were stilled by hearing the few soft words of a prayer that he breathed over her head. It was a prayer for her and for himself, and one of its petitions was, that they might be kept to see each other again. Ellen wrote the words on her heart.
"Are you going?"
He showed his watch.
"Well, I shall see you to-morrow."