A Red Wallflower

flower garden in front of the house; and the smell of the hay came from the fields where mowers were busy, and the trill of a bob-o'-link sounded in the meadow. I

nd honeysuckles, and balm and southernwood. Esther had risen to her feet, and with her book in her hand, stood awaiting him. Her appearance struck him as in some sense new. She looked pale, he thought, and the mental tension of the moment probably made it true, but it was not merely that. There was a refined, ethereal gravity and beauty, which it is very unusual to see in a girl of thirteen; an expression too spiritual for years which ought to be full of joyous and careless an

ve him her hand, and a very lovely smile of welc

e hand, and met the smile, he bent down and pressed his lips to those innocent, smiling ones. I suppose it wa

in astonishment. It was a flush that m

oon as I cou

, Pitt. Papa is sleeping; he had a h

the co

s not well.

Esther, ho

I'm w

you s

be the matter with me? There is n

too much thinking,' sa

to think,' sai

are other people in the world whose business it is to do t

ok and a smile which would have better fitted twice her y

said Pit

something! But not now,' she added immediatel

arge upon even to his father and mother; but to these childish eyes and this implicit trusting, loving, innocent spirit, he gave the infinite pleasure of knowing

still life, Esther had been in a measure drawn out of herself, and kept from brooding. And then, beyond all, the natural organization of this fine creature was of the rarest; strong and delicate at once, of large capacities and with correspondingly large requirements; able for great enjoyment, and open also to keen suffering. He could see it in every glance of the big, thoughtful eyes, and every play of the sensitive lips, which had, however, a trait of steadfastness and grave character along with their sensitiveness. Pitt looked, and wondered, and admired. This child's face was taking on already a fascinating power of expression, quite beyond her years; and that was because the inner life was developing too soon into thoug

teful. Pitt must stay and have tea; and the talk between him and the colonel went on unflaggingly. Esther said nothing now; but Pitt watched her, and saw how she listened; saw how her eyes accompanied him, and h

th fresh zeal. And they had glorious walks, and most delightful botanizing, in the early summer mornings, or when the sun had got low in the western sky. Sometimes Pitt came with a little tax-cart and took Esther a drive. It was all delight; I cannot tell which thing gave her most pleasure. To study with Pitt, or to play with Pitt, one was as good as the other; and the s

hey were sitting on the verandah again, to be out of the way of the colonel; they were ta

you were under the necessity of thinking.

I say

hing l

ober. 'Everybody must

reat many people get along quite comfor

h,' said Esther gravely. 'I d

ple think

hy

am sure. It's their

harm,

nywhere, and it will bur

ught li

were you thinking a

tle with the air of one who is rousing herself up to give a confiden

ng for

said people could alw

d not know how

rousing himself now; 'you were not

I hadn't anybody left. And oh,

extraordinary want of comfort, at twelve

of such wistful, sensitive, beautiful ey

to have comfort enough to

hey could, always,'

he matter

he thought it advisable to have things brought out into the full light and put into form; hoping they mig

se, you cannot s

hen I shall alway

ing at home short; but what was the use of talking about it? That lesson, that

your highness went

ot know how to look; and papa said he didn't; or I don't know if he sai

he any

I began at the beginning; and I read on; but I found nothing until-I'll show you,' she said, suddenly breaking

me to this. Now w

; in the end of which is the prescribed form for the blessin

ace shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. 'The Lord

l she saw he had

what does

hi

ce upon thee, and give thee peace." What do

lf the question for the first time

ntly, after a pause,-'you s

s still

nderstand

rows, 'No. Nobody could do that, except-the peop

hat had it"? T

onderfu

onderfu

you ought to as

If ever I speak to him of comfort, he think

r dependence?' he

ither. Only, now you are her

n tell what you want to know, in part. Queen Esther, was your

a little astonishe

ce what it would be, to have either of them refuse to look a

no!

a happ

as that to

it is the very contras

p the light of thy cou

ng, loving face of app

n Es

breathlessly. 'Yes, I

understand; but tha

n't und

g that answers to what among us a bright face of love

er. 'But how can

ans. "The Lord make His face to shine

r slowly, 'if anybody had th

should think he would not. "The Lord lift up H

't underst

This is something

e come to u

a question. It is a look of favour and love described here; but of course it would not g

silent a l

'you have given me

ow

ans,' said the child, hanging over

not give

means,' said Esther, in a tone which Pitt f

u going to d

e looks which were older than her years; far-reaching, spiri

t, it is different with you. You go out into the world, an