rt.

* * * * *

"Why mayn't we go up to see Bambo this morning, Aunt Catharine?" asked
Darby next day, as soon as he and Joan had eaten their breakfast. "We
didn't see him at all yesterday, and I have so much to tell him about
father and the Boers and Africa and--and--everything."

"And I wants to take him some marigolds," said Joan, holding up a huge
bunch nearly as big as her own head.

Aunt Catharine was silent, and Darby almost dropped the rod he was
trimming into a stick for baby and looked up into his aunt's face. It
was pale and sad, and there were tears in her eyes. "What is it, Aunt
Catharine?" inquired the boy. "Has anything vexed you, or are you angry
with us?" he added timidly; while Joan rubbed her rosy face up and down
against her aunt's hand, for all the world like a confident kitten.

"No, dears, I'm not angry with either of you; why should I?" answered
Aunt Catharine quickly. "But I have something to say that will make you
both sad, and I don't like doing so."

"It is about Bambo, I am certain," said Darby slowly, throwing down the
rod he was whittling, shutting up his precious knife and putting it into
his pocket, while a shadow fell upon his face, and clouded the gladness
in his eyes. "He's not up yet, and when we were going to his room after
we were dressed, nurse dragged us downstairs again; and she looked so
funny, as if something had frightened her."

"Please let me go to my dear dwarf, Aunt Catharine," coaxed Joan. "One
of Topsy's legs is comin' off, and nobody knows how to mend it 'cept
Bambo."

"Bam'o! Bam'o!" cried Eric, at the top of his voice. "Bam'o! tum an' div
baby swing--high, high!"

"There, Alice, you tell them, for upon my word I can't," whispered Miss
Turner to her sister, who had come into the breakfast-room just behind
the children; and catching Eric up in her arms, Aunt Catharine carried
him outside into the glory and promise which the beauty of the summer
morning held for her saddened spirit.

"Bambo won't be able to mend your doll to-day, Joan," said Auntie Alice
gently, lifting the little girl on to her lap and drawing Darby close
beside her knee. "He will never talk to you, or amuse you, or do
anything for any of us again; because last night, after we were all
asleep except your father and Aunt Catharine, God's messenger came and
whispered to him that he was wanted--that his errand on earth was done.
And early this morning, long befor