share of the mirth ceased
instantly.

"My Lady! my Lady! what have you, I pray you tell me? You look as if
sentence of death had been passed on you!"

Margery passed her hand dreamily across her brow.

"Sentence, good Alice, of the evil which is in death!" she said, softly,
"and henceforth death must needs be a glad thing. But that is to come
yet."

She sat down, and took the child on her knee, and he nestled his little
golden head into her bosom. For a few minutes she rocked herself and
him to and fro in silence, but at length her voice came, and though it
trembled a little, it was almost as quiet and silvery as usual.

"Geoffrey, dost love me?"

"Yes, mother, very much."

"Poor child! how wilt do without me!"

"Go you hence, mother?"

"Yes, my child, I go hence. Geoffrey, wilt mind ever what I now say
unto thee? Wilt never, never forget it, but ever keep it fresh and
shene, and think thereof whenever thou dost think of me?"

"Yes, mother, I shan't forget."

"Alice, thou wilt help him to remember, good lass, if thou be not taken
from him."

"That will I, good my Lady," said Alice, sobbing, and only comprehending
that something painful had happened.

"Geoffrey, darling, thou wilt be a good child to thy father?"

"I'll try, mother, but--he frighteth me."

Margery sighed heavily.

"List me now, my heart. Dost remember what I told thee about Jesus
Christ?"

Geoffrey answered that he did.

"Right, my heart. And lovest Jesus Christ, who died for thee?"

"Yes, mother, I love Him and you."

The child's innocent answer nearly upset Margery's half-assumed
calmness. She rocked him a minute longer in silence. "Remember, mine
own sweet heart, ever that nothing but Jesus can save thee. Thou canst
not save thyself. Beg of Him with all thine heart that He will save
thee, and love Him all thy life long, even unto _the end_."

She ceased an instant.

"Now, sweet heart, kiss me. Give me a brave kiss, mine own--it is the
last. Never shall we kiss again till we kiss in the Happy City!
Fare-thee-well, dearly beloved! God have thee in His holy keeping! God
teach thee what I cannot--what I by reason of mine ignorance know not,
or what thou by reason of thy tender years canst not yet conceive. God
forgive thee thy sins, and help thee in all trouble and woe, and bring
thee to that blessed home where I shall see thee again, and where they
sin not, nor grieve, neither part any more!"

Margery gentl