been taken; surely all
would go well now!

How often we think the worst must be over, just a minute before it comes
upon us!

A little rap on Margaret Thurston's door brought her to open it.

"Why, Rose! I'm fain to see thee, maid. Come in."

"My mother bade me tell you, Margaret," said Rose, when the door was
shut, "that there shall be a Scripture reading in our house this even.
Will you come?"

"That will we, right gladly, dear heart. At what hour?"

"Midnight. We dare not afore."

"We'll be there. How fares thy mother to-day?"

"Why, not over well. She seems but ill at ease. Her hands burn, and
she is ever athirst. 'Tis an ill rheum, methinks."

"Ay, she has caught a bad cold," said Margaret. "Rose, I'll tell you
what--we'll come a bit afore midnight, and see if we cannot help you.
My master knows a deal touching herbs; he's well-nigh as good as any
apothecary, though I say it, and he'll compound an herb drink that shall
do her good, with God's blessing, while I help you in the house. What
say you? Have I well said?"

"Indeed, Margaret, and I'd be right thankful if you would, for it'll be
hard on Father if he's neither Mother nor me to do for him--she, sick
abed, and me waiting on her."

"Be sure it will! But I hope it'll not be so bad as that. Well, then,
look you, we'll shut up the hut and come after you. You haste on to
her, and when I've got things a bit tidy, and my master's come from
work--he looked to be overtime to-night--we'll run over to Bentley, and
do what we can."

Rose thanked her again, and went on with increased speed. She found her
mother no better, and urged her to go to bed, telling her that Margaret
was close at hand. It was now about five in the afternoon.

Alice agreed to this, for she felt almost too poorly to sit up. She
went to bed, and Rose flew about the kitchen, getting all finished that
she could before Margaret should arrive.

It was Saturday night, and the earliest hours of the Sabbath were to be
ushered in by the "reading." Only a few neighbours were asked, for it
was necessary now to be very careful. Half-a-dozen might be invited, as
if to supper; but the times when a hundred or more had assembled to hear
the Word of God were gone by. Would they ever come again? They dared
not begin to read until all prying eyes and ears were likely to be
closed in sleep; and the reader's voice was low, that nobody might be
roused next door. Few people could rea