“Yes, but wait till I get Anna Belle.”  The child ran into her own room and brought the doll.  Then she jumped into her mother’s lap, for there was room for all three in the big chair by the window.

Some memory made the little girl lift her shoulders.  “This was aunt Madge’s chair,” she said.  “She used to sit here in the prettiest lace wrapper—­I was never in this room before except two or three times,”—­Jewel’s awed tone changed,—­“but now my own mother lives here! and cousin Eloise would love to know it and to know that I have her room.  I mean to write her about it.”

“You must take me upstairs pretty soon and let me see the chamber that was yours.  Oh, there is so much to see, Jewel; shall we ever get to the end?” Mrs. Evringham’s tone was joyous, as she hugged the child impulsively, and rested her cheek on the flaxen head.  “Darling,” she went on softly, “think what Divine Love has done for mother, to bring her here!  I’ve worked very hard, my little girl, and though Love helped me all the time, and I was happy, I’ve had so much care, and almost never a day when I had leisure to stop and think about something else than my work.  I expected to go right back to it now, with father, and I didn’t worry, because God was leading me—­but, dearie, when I woke up this morning”—­she paused, and as Jewel lifted her head, mother and child gazed into one another’s eyes—­“I said—­you know what I said?”

For answer the little girl smiled gladly and began to sing the familiar hymn.  Her mother joined an alto to the clear voice, in the manner that had been theirs for years, and fervently, now, they sang the words:—­

    “Green pastures are before me,
    Which yet I have not seen. 
    Bright skies will soon be o’er me,
    Where darkest clouds have been. 
    My hope I cannot measure,
    My path in life is free,
    My Father has my treasure,
    And He will walk with me!”

Jewel looked joyous.

“The green pastures were in Bel-Air Park, weren’t they?” she said, “and you hadn’t seen them, had you?”

“No,” returned Mrs. Evringham gently, “and just now there is not a cloud in our bright sky.”

“Father’s gone away,” returned Jewel doubtfully.

“Only to get ready to come back.  It is very wonderful, Jewel.”

“Yes, it is.  I’m sure it makes God glad to see us so happy.”

“I’m sure it does; and the best of it is that father knows that it is love alone that brought this happiness, just as it brings all the real happiness that ever comes in the world.  He sees that it is only what knowledge we have of God that made it possible for him to come back to what ought to be his, his father’s welcome home!  Father sees that it is a demonstration of love, and that is more important than all; for anything that gives us a stronger grasp on the truth, and more understanding of its working, is of the greatest value to us.”