tle light for him to see how pale and sorrow-stricken she looked; but
the solemn tenderness of her voice sank deeply into his heart.

'Stephen, my dear boy,' she said, 'are you sure that I care for you, and
would not let any trouble come upon you if I could help it?'

'Yes, surely, Miss Anne,' answered the boy wonderingly.

'Your Father which is in heaven cares much more for you,' she continued;
'but "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He
receiveth." God is dealing with you as His son, Stephen. Can you bear the
sorrow which is sent by Him?'

'If the Lord Jesus will help me,' he murmured.

'He will help you, my poor boy,' said Miss Anne 'Oh, Stephen, Stephen,
how can I tell you? Our little Nan, our precious little child, has fallen
down the old shaft.'

Stephen reeled giddily, and would have sunk to the ground, but Cole held
him up in his strong arms, while his comrades gathered about him with
tears and sobs, which prevented them uttering any words of consolation.
But he could not have listened to them. He fancied he heard the pattering
of Nan's little feet, and saw her laughing face. But no! he heard instead
the dull and lingering footsteps of Tim, and saw a little lifeless form
folded from sight in Tim's jacket.

'The little lass 'ud die very easy,' whispered Cole, passing his arm
tighter round Stephen; 'and she's up in heaven among the angels by this
time, I reckon.'

Stephen drew himself away from Cole's arm, and staggered forward a step
or two to meet Tim; when he took the sad burden from him, and sat down
without a word, pressing it closely to his breast. His perfect silence
touched all about him. Miss Anne hid her face in her hands, and some of
the men groaned aloud.

'The old pit ought to have been bricked up years ago,' said Cole; 'the
child's death will be upon the master's head.'

'It'll all go to one reckoning,' muttered Black Thompson. But Stephen
seemed not to hear their words. Still, with the child clasped tightly to
him, he waited for the lowering of the skip, and when it descended, he
seated himself in it without lifting up his head, which was bent over the
dead child. Miss Anne and Tim took their places beside him, and they were
drawn up to the broad, glittering light of day on the surface, where a
crowd of eager bystanders was waiting for Stephen's appearance.

'Don't speak to me, please,' he murmured, without looking round; and they
made way for him in his dee