CHAPTER VI

OLD FRIENDS

Nothing was allowed to disturb Dr. Crane during his breakfast-time; his wife took her meal in silence, while he studied his letters and newspaper. This morning was no exception to the general rule, but suddenly he laid down his correspondence, and said abruptly:

"By the way, Mary, have you heard anything from Margaret Woodford lately?"

"A few days ago," she answered. "Why do you ask?"

"To tell you the truth, I've never felt quite satisfied about her going to that post she accepted. I really owed it to her father to find out what kind of people her employers were."

"Well, dear, she didn't give you much chance of doing that. You remember she answered the advertisement, and got the situation through an agency, and we knew nothing about it until everything was settled."

"Yes, but I still feel I ought to have made a point of inquiring personally. Does she seem happy?"

"I don't know about happy--I should imagine not very; one can hardly expect that, perhaps--but she mentions the people are kind, and the country lovely. It is evident she is leading a quiet life; her employers for some reason seem to wish to live in retirement."

"Now, I wonder why? I don't quite like that fact," said the Doctor, a little testily.

"Why, John, surely you are unreasonably suspicious; the child is evidently in a comfortable home, and I think must be interested in her work, or she would not have stayed so long. I made her promise to come away to us at once if she found anything wrong--in fact I asked her here for the holidays in August."

"Oh, I'm glad you did that!" he interposed in more satisfied tones. "And what does she say?"

"I think she fears it would be painful to see the old home again so soon; she says she has been asked to stay where she is, and she would rather remain, and in fact she does not need rest yet."

"I hope it is all right then," answered Dr. Crane. "Ask her in your next to tell you everything unreservedly about the people, and if she is quite content? Seems strange Woodford's daughter should be out in the world like this, doesn't it?" he finished musingly.

"Yes--and how different it might have been if Jack--had--lived," said Mrs. Crane sadly.

"Our hopes were certainly shattered in more ways than one," he assented, with a sigh; "but, old lady, we wouldn't have it otherwise, would we? God called him for the service of his country, and when a man answers that call in His Name, all must be well. You miss the boy, I know--and well--so do I, more than I can say; but we are getting on, and it will be a grand homecoming when he stands, as we know he will stand, with outstretched hands to welcome us on the other side. I expect we shall be glad then he went over there first; what do you say, old dear?" he finished gently, and coming round to where Mrs. Crane sat, the tears slowly coursing down her cheeks, he stooped and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you, John," she answered. "I forget sometimes the joy that is coming, the waiting seems so long, and yet it's a lovely thought, the King may come into the air any day bringing our darling with Him. There is nothing necessary to be fulfilled before that event, is there?"

"No, I think not; scripture gives us nothing, but we must wait patiently, and be content with God's time and choice."

"I love those lines, John:

"'At midnight, eve, or morning, We may hear the victory song. Filling the heavens above us, From Redemption's white-robed throng.'"

"I wish there were more stricken hearts comforted with the Thessalonian promises," he answered thoughtfully. "I am amazed at the numbers of people I come across in my profession who are apparently content to live their life as if it were the fulfilment of all hopes and ambitions, and not merely a pilgrimage here, an incident in eternity; but there, I must be off to the surgery," he concluded, suddenly changing the subject as the clock struck nine. As he was closing the door, he called out hurriedly:

"My old friend Hatherley is coming down here in August to spend his holiday with us."

"Oh, I _am_ glad!" murmured Mrs. Crane to herself; "John will enjoy that."

Then gathering up her correspondence, she went to interview cook. A thought was in her mind to write Margaret a long motherly letter of sympathy, giving her all the home news of interest she could think of, and especially the Doctor's message.