“‘Yes! yes! pray go on.’
“‘Well, in the first place, Lottie is not dead; and in the second place, she is much better; and in the third place, she is going to recover. Now, come, you promised to be calm; remember I hold you to your promise. I will read you the telegram if you will sit down and be perfectly quiet; if you do not, I shall not let you see or hear it.’
“‘What are you talking about? Am I not calm? You don’t expect me not to tremble, do you?’
“‘There, now, just sit perfectly still and hear the good news.’
“He at last fell back on the seat and listened to the reading of the telegram, while his eyes were closed and his hands tightly clasped across his breast. When I had finished reading, I knelt down by his seat and whispered:
“‘Kneel down, Harry; now is the very time to offer thanks.’
“He fell on his knees in an instant, and remained there a long time; and when he got up there was a look of inexpressible joy on his countenance. I was satisfied that he was safe, and then I was happy, too.
“‘Eddie,’ he said, after remaining silent for a few minutes, apparently soliloquizing, ‘if God spares Lottie’s life, I will love and worship Him as long as I live.’
“‘Indeed, we should feel very grateful to Him for such a great blessing,’ I replied.
“‘What is the time?’ he inquired, as he saw me looking at the watch.