CHAPTER XII "UNDER THE CEDAR TREE" "Courage! in all times of trial, WE E must now go back to Kate, and see how these days of work and trouble had passed with her. It was a bitter trial through which she was passing, but He who sent it was enabling her to bear it. Miss Elwyn marked the change in her with the greatest interest and thankfulness. It is only those who bear their crosses meekly, and bend beneath the Father's chastening rod, that will have their portion in His noble army of martyrs. When Miss Elwyn, sitting by Lucy's couch under the shade of the cedar tree, would tell the girls stories of brave deeds and noble patience which she had known during the Crimean war, Kate would bend her head over her work, and sigh as she felt what a wide gulf there was between these real heroes and those of whom she had dreamed. She admired the "golden deeds" as much as ever, but she felt now that the doers of them were not such as she had pictured them, vague shadows, but real men and women, alive in the world, and taking their part in life's everyday duties. "Let each esteem others better than himself," was what passed through Miss Elwyn's mind as she noticed how diffident Kate had become, and how she fancied all her efforts to be of use were vain. This was a much happier state of mind than her former one, and Kate soon began to lose the fretful, discontented expression which had been so painful in one so young. "I do not know what I should do without Katie," said Lucy, one afternoon to Miss Elwyn," she is always doing something kind for me. I wish I could thank her properly." Miss Elwyn smiled, and taking the little girl's thin hand within her own, she thought how impossible it would be for any one to help being kind to that patient little sufferer. "I am not half useful enough, Lucy," said Kate, "I often wish I could do something to make you happier, but I am only beginning to learn to use my fingers. Do you know, Miss Elwyn, I really feel ashamed when I remember how many hours I used to waste, sitting with my hands before me." "I am glad you are finding the use of your fingers at last," said Miss Elwyn. "Indeed, Kate's fingers are very useful and clever ones," said Lucy, rather indignantly, for she fancied Miss Elwyn was casting a slight on her sister. "Aunt Mary says she does not know what she shall do when we leave her, at least, it must be when Katie leaves her, for I am only a trouble to every one, and give so much extra work," sighed Lucy, the large tears gathering in her eyes, and nearly brimming over. "When are you going back to London ?" said Miss Elwyn, appearing not to notice Lucy's distress. G "The doctor says Lucy may be moved in an invalid carriage whenever father likes," said Kate, and he thinks change of air may give her an appetite; but father is afraid the close air of our house in the city will be bad for her after the freshness of the country." "Poor father, he is very dull at home without us," said Lucy, who was rather low that day, having had an unusually restless night, and so was inclined to think of sad things instead of cheerful ones. "He did talk of sending us to the sea-side for a bit, only it is not easy to find a place where he knows any one, and he could not trust Lucy alone with me," said Kate. "Have you ever seen the sea, Lucy?" said Miss Elwyn. "No, never," said Lucy. "I think I should like to see it very much. I suppose it is like a big pond." "Rather a bigger pond than you fancy," said Miss Elwyn, smiling, and then she told Lucy so many funny stories of her sea-side adventures that the little girl brightened up immensely, and seemed already refreshed merely by the idea of the grand big waves rolling in, one after another, over the shore, or dashing themselves to pieces against the cliffs. As Miss Elwyn walked home, the wish that Lucy could have the benefit of sea-air increased within her, and she set herself to work to try and find a means for carrying out the idea. On arriving at the door of the vicarage, she found a pretty pony carriage, and a tiny groom waiting. Hearing voices in the garden, she knew her brother must be there with the visitors, so instead of going into the house, she opened a small wicket-gate and joined the party on the terrace. A very elegant lady, with a little. fairy girl of eight years old, were standing with Mr Elwyn in the garden. "Mrs Marchmont, I am so glad to see you," said Miss Elwyn. "I did not know you were in the neighbourhood." "We only returned last night, and though the country here looks lovely, we are very dismal at having left the sea," rejoined Mrs Marchmont. "Florence thinks there is no place like Beachport. Do you, darling?" she added, turning to the little one. |