I am praying, praying that reason may come back and her life be
spared till she has learned to know him, whom to know aright is life
eternal."
"My precious, unselfish little wife!" he said, embracing her with emotion,
"I believe your petition will be granted; that the Master will give you
this soul for your hire, saying to you as to one of old, 'According to
your faith be it unto you.'
"But, dearest," he added, "you must allow others to share your labor,
others upon whom she certainly has a nearer claim. Where is Mrs. Conly?"
"Aunt Louise says she has no talent for nursing," Elsie answered with a
half smile, "and that Prilla, mammy and Dinah are quite capable and I am
very foolish to take the work off their hands."
"And I am partly of her opinion," he responded playfully; then more
seriously, "will you not, for my sake and for your children's, spare
yourself a little."
"And for your father's," added Mr. Dinsmore, whose quiet step as he
entered the room, they had not heard.
Elsie turned to him with both hands extended, a smile on her lips, a tear
in her eye, "My dear father, how are you?"
"Quite well, daughter," he said, taking the hands and kissing the rich red
lips, as beautiful and as sweet now, as in her childhood or youth, "but
troubled and anxious about you.
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