Janets Love and Service | Page 9

hae me and Sandy in his keeping, I dinna doubt."
There was a long silence after this. Each knew what the other suffered. There was no need to speak of it, and so they sat without a word; Janet, with the quiet tears falling now and then over her cheeks; her mother, grave and firm, giving no outward sign of emotion. Each shrunk, for the other's sake, from putting their fears for the future into words; but their thoughts were busy. The mother's heart ached for the great wrench that must sever Janet from her child and her home, and Janet's heart grew sick with the dread of long weary days and nights her mother might have to pass, with perhaps no daughter's hand to close her eyes at last, till the thoughts of both changed to supplication, fervent though unuttered; and the burden of the prayer of each was, that the other might have strength and peace.
The mother spoke first. "When will it be?"
"It canna be long now. The sooner the better when once it's really settled. There are folk in the parish no weel pleased at the minister, for thinking to go."
"It's for none to say what's right, and what's wrang, in the matter," said the mother, gravely. "I hae nae doubt the Lord will go with him; but it will be a drear day for plenty besides me."
"He's bent on it. Go he will, and I trust it may be for the best," but Janet sighed drearily.
"And how are the bairns pleased with the prospect?" asked her mother.
"Ah! they're weel pleased, bairn-like, at any thought o' a change. Miss Graeme has her doubts, I whiles think, but that shouldna count; there are few things that look joyful to her at the present time. She's ower like her father with her ups and downs. She hasna her mother's cheerful spirit."
"Her mother's death was an awfu' loss to Miss Graeme, poor thing," said the mother.
"Aye, that it was--her that had never kent a trouble but by readin' o' them in printed books. It was an awfu' wakening to her. She has never been the same since, and I doubt it will be long till she has the same light heart again. She tries to fill her mother's place to them all, and when she finds she canna do it, she loses heart and patience with herself. But I hae great hope o' her. She has the `single eye,' and God will guide her. I hae nae fear for Miss Graeme."
And then they spoke of many things--settling their little matters of business, and arranging their plans as quietly as though they looked forward to doing the same thing every month during the future years as they had done during the past. Nothing was forgotten or omitted; for Janet well knew that all her time and strength would be needed for the preparations that must soon commence, and that no time so good as the present might be found for her own personal arrangements. Her little savings were to be lodged in safe hands for her mother's use, and if anything were to happen to her they were to be taken to send Sandy over the sea. It was all done very quietly and calmly. I will not say that Janet's voice did not falter sometimes, or that no mist came between the mother's eyes and the grave face on the other side of the table. But there was no sign given. A strong sense of duty sustained them. A firm belief that however painful the future might be, they were doing right in this matter, gave them power to look calmly at the sacrifice that must cost them so much.
At length the children's voices were heard, and at the sound, Janet's heart leaped up with a throb of pain, but in words she gave no utterance to the pang.
"Weel, Sandy, lad, is this you," said she, as with mingled shyness and pleasure the boy came forward at his grandmother's bidding. He was a well-grown and healthy lad, with a frank face, and a thick shock of light curls. There was a happy look in his large blue eyes, and the smile came very naturally to his rather large mouth. To his mother, at the moment, he seemed altogether beautiful, and her heart cried out against the great trial that was before her. Sandy stood with his hand in hers, while his grandmother questioned him about the errand on which he had been sent, and she had time to quiet herself. But there was a look on her face as she sat there, gently stroking his fair hair with her hand, that was sad to see. Marian saw it with momentary wonder, and then coming up to her, she laid her arm