Helena sat down, her heart fluttering in her throat. David knelt
beside her, shutting first one eye and then the other. "'Now I lay
me--"' he began in a businesslike voice. At the Amen he opened his eyes
and drew a long breath. Helena moved slightly and he shut his eyes
again; "I've not done yet.

"'Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me, Bless Thy little lamb to-night--'"

He paused and looked up at Mrs. Richie. "Can I say colt?" Before she
could reply he decided for himself. "No; colts don't have shepherds;
it has to be lamb."

Her silent laughter did not disturb him. He finished with another
satisfied Amen. Helena put her arms about him to raise him from the
floor, but he looked up, aggrieved.

"Why, I've not done yet," he reproached her "You've forgot the
blessings."

"The blessings?" she asked timidly.

"Why, of course," said David, trying to be patient; "but I'm most
done," he encouraged her. "God bless everybody--Dr. Lavendar taught me
the new blessings," he interrupted himself, his eyes snapping open,
"because my old blessings were all gone to heaven. God bless
everybody; Dr. Lavendar, an' Mary, an' Goliath--" Helena laughed. "He
said I could," David defended himself doggedly--"an' Danny, an' Dr.
King, an' Mrs. Richie. And make me a good boy. For Jesus' sake Amen.
Now I'm done!" cried David, scrambling happily to his feet.