Margaret held her in her arms, and put the weary head to rest upon her bosom. She lifted the thin soft hair from off the temples, and bathed them with water. Nicholas understood all her signs for different articles with the quickness of love, and even the round-eyed sister moved with laborious gentleness at Margaret's "hush!" Presently the spasm that foreshadowed death had passed away, and Bessy roused herself and said,--
"I'll go to bed,--it's best place; but," catching at Margaret's gown, "yo'll come again,--I know yo' will--but just say it!"
"I will come again to-morrow," said Margaret.
Bessy leant back against her father, who prepared to carry her upstairs; but as Margaret rose to go, he struggled to say something; "I could wish there were a God, if it were only to ask Him to bless thee."
Margaret went away very sad and thoughtful.
She was late for tea at home. At Helstone unpunctuality at meal-times was a great fault in her mother's eyes; but now this, as well as many other little irregularities, seemed to have lost their power of irritation, and Margaret almost longed for the old complainings.

Margaret held her in her arms, and lifted the thin soft hair from off the temples. Nicholas understood her signs for water with the quickness of love, and even the round-eyed sister moved with laborious gentleness.
Presently the spasm passed away. Bessy roused herself and said, 'I'll go to bed - it's best place; but,' catching at Margaret's gown, 'yo'll come again - say it!'
'I will come tomorrow,' said Margaret.
Bessy leant back against her father, who prepared to carry her upstairs; but first he struggled to say something: 'I could wish there were a God, if only to ask Him to bless thee.'
Margaret went away very sad and thoughtful. She was late for tea at home. At Helstone unpunctuality at meal-times was a great fault in her mother's eyes; but no more, and Margaret almost longed for the old complainings.
