excited interest, not unmingled with fear, were taking possession of
her. She crouched down beside the solemn woman, and looked through at
the house and all its closed windows. The hedge was alive with birds
that hopped and piped unnoticed, even the scarlet bird was forgotten.

"Mrs. Martha," she whispered, "I heard papa say Cameron believed that
our Saviour was soon coming back again, and only those people would go
with Him who were watching and waiting. Mr. Trenholme said every one was
mad who thought that."

"There's a sight of people will tell you you're mad if you're only
fervent."

The child did not know precisely what "fervent" meant, but she began to
doubt Trenholme's positive knowledge on the subject. "Do you believe the
end of the world's coming so soon?"

"Lor, child! what do I know but the world might go on a good bit after
that? I can't tell from my Bible whether the Lord will take us who are
looking for Him up to His glory for a while, or whether He'll appoint us
a time of further trial while He's conquering the earth; but I do know
it wouldn't matter much which, after we'd heard Him speak to each of us
by name and seen His face." The sad woman looked positively happy while
she spoke.

"Oh, Mrs. Martha, are _you_ watching like that? But how can you all the
time--you must sleep and work, you know?"

"Yes, child; but the heart can watch; and He knows we must sleep and
work; and for that reason I'm not so sure but, if we're faithful, He