he ground, father?" asked Darby the doubting. "I
'member quite well seeing a big, long box with brass handles and flowers
and wreaths and things, and nurse and Hughes said it was mother."

"You silly!" struck in Joan sharply. "That wasn't _weally_ muver; it was
only the bit of her that used to be tired and sick and have headiks. But
the thinkin' place and the part of her that used to say 'Joan, darlin','
and 'Darby, my son,' in such a cuddlin' kind of voice, and--and--why,
just all the lovin' bit of mamsie is up in heaven!--Isn't I correc',
daddy?" she demanded confidently.

"Quite correct, dear," replied the father, fondly kissing the
flower-like face upturned to his.

"And will we ever see her again?" asked Darby, who was feeling somewhat
snubbed. "You are not telling us that, father, and that's what I want
most partikler to know," he added, with a pathetic sigh, behind which
there lay a whole world of longing.

"Yes, my boy," answered Captain Dene promptly; "but not here! You shall
never see her again in the house or about the garden, at prayer-time or
for good-night. Yet she has merely gone out of our sight; she is often
with us, I believe, although we cannot see her. And by-and-by, I do not
know when or how soon," he added, thinking of the cruel warfare in which
he was about to take his share, "if you try to be brave and true, and
kind and loving to every one, you also shall go to dwell with God in
that happy, beautiful home where mother waits to clasp her dear ones
again in an embrace from which they shall never be separated."

Darby's eyes were raised to the sky with an expression so rapt, so
exalted, so pure, as if he were already beholding the glories of the
heavenly land. But Joan had still some more questions to ask.

"Will God--or wouldn't it be politer to say Mr. God? No?" as her father
shook his head. "Well, will He send an angel to fetch us to heaven when
He wants us?"

"Yes, dear; and when His messenger comes for us we must make no delay,"
replied Captain Dene softly.

"And will He let me take Miss Carolina, my dolly, wif me, and the
pussies?" queried Joan eagerly.

"Well, no, I hardly think so," said her father, with a sympathetic
smile, for he understood perfectly how hard it is this leaving behind of
friends and possessions. Did not the Master Himself foresee the trial
when He enjoined His followers, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures
upon earth"?

"But Jesus will give you something far