Carol bounded through the park with a light, joyous step. On reaching
the Manor House, he would have gone straight to his aunt, but there were
visitors with her. So he rejoined his cousins in the school-room.
"Where ever have you been, Carol?" they questioned, as he entered.
"Somewhere Auntie gave me permission to go," he replied quietly.
Miss Markham looked at the boy's beaming face, and she too wondered. He
had been absent from the Scripture lesson, which she, and sometimes Mrs.
Mandeville, gave the children every Sunday evening. She felt a little
remorse that she had been conscious during the lesson of a feeling of
relief, on account of the boy's absence. Carol so often asked a
question in a quiet, thoughtful manner, which she was unable to answer:
and the question would often recur to her afterwards. She had an
intuition that the boy had a firmer grasp of spiritual truths than she
herself possessed. Many times she would have liked to discuss a subject
with him. But Mrs. Mandeville had warned her that the boy had been
taught much that was unorthodox, she therefore refrained from
discussion.
Though it was much later than usual, Carol was wide awake when Mrs.
Mandeville came to his room that night. She had found all the other
children fast asleep.
"Auntie, I did want to tell you, I had a very happy time with Mr. Higgs.
He's such a nice, interesting old man. I was able to tell him so much
that he had never thought about before. Thank you again for letting me
go. He will like me to go next Sunday--I may--mayn't I?"
"Of course, dear; as it seems to make you so happy; and I am sure it
must be very nice for Mr. Higgs to have you read to him, as he is so
troubled with rheumatism. But you must really settle down to sleep now,
Carol. You have no idea how late it is."
"Yes, Auntie, I shall soon be asleep, I wanted to tell you first. I
feel so happy now, I can say one verse of Mrs. Eddy's beautiful hymn
to-night which commences:
'My prayer some daily good to do,
'To thine for Thee;'
"Cousin Alicia used to sing it to me every night when I was ill. I
loved it so much, because its measures _did_ bind the power of pain.
Often I had fallen asleep before she came to the end."
"You must repeat all the hymn to me some time, Carol, I shall like to
hear it."
"Yes, Auntie, in the morning. I have been thinking whilst I was waiting
for you to come that when we want to do something for Truth very, very
much, Love finds the way. When I am a man, I shall want, more than
anything in all the world, just to do what Jesus said, those that loved
him were to do, 'Go ye into all the world, preach the Gospel, and heal
the sick.' I cannot help remembering there are so many little children
lying now, just as I used to lie, always in pain; and they could be
healed, just as I was healed, if there were more people who understood
what Jesus meant by 'The truth shall make you free."
"And you are quite sure, Carol, it is that which has made you free?"
"Oh, Auntie, dear, I can never let even the tiniest thought of doubt
creep up and make me question that. I _know_. When Uncle Raymond read
in church last Sunday 'I know that my Redeemer liveth,' I felt I wanted
to stand up and tell all the people _because_ He liveth, I am well.
That is 'knowing.' I do long for the time to come when I shall be able
to tell them so, and I can give all my time and my money to spread the
glad tidings, to fight for Truth."
"Maybe there is a great work, a great future before you, dear boy,
surely the instrument has been prepared in a fierce fire, and has come
forth strong for the battle. Now, good-night, and God bless you,
darling." He clasped both his arms round her neck, holding her tightly,
as in earlier years he used to cling to his mother.