'Yes 'm, it's just the colour from that sky that keeps your cheeks from showin' how white they be. Miss Esther, you've just done too much.' 'Never mind,' said the girl again. 'I wanted to have papa comfortable before I went to school. I am going to school Monday morning, Barker. Now I think he'll do very nicely.' She looked round the room, which was a pattern of neatness and of comfort that was both simple and elegant. But the housekeeper's face was grave with disapproval and puckered with lines of care. The wistful expression of anxiety upon it touched Esther. 'Barker,' she said kindly, 'you do not look happy.' 'Me! No, Miss Esther, it is which I do not expect to look.' 'Why not?' 'Mum, things is not accordin' in this world.' 'I think you are mistaken. Do you know who the happy people are?' 'Indeed, Miss Esther, I think they're the blessed ones that has gone clean away from the earth.' 'Oh no! I mean, people that are happy now and happy here, Barker.' 'I am sure and I don't know, Miss Esther; if it wouldn't be little children,--which is, them that is too young to know what the world is like. I do suppose they are happy.' 'Don't you know, the Bible says some other people are happy?' 'The Bible!' Mrs. Barker stared, open-mouthed, at the face before her. Esther had sat down by the window, where the glow from the west was upon it, like a glory round the head of a young saint; and the evening sky was not more serene, nor reflected more surely a hidden light than did the beautiful eyes. Mrs. Barker gazed, and could not bring out another word. 'You read your Bible, don't you?' 'Yes 'm, in course; which it isn't very often; but in course I reads it.' 'Don't you know what it says about happy people?' 'In Paradise,' gasped the housekeeper. 'No, not in Paradise. Listen; let me tell you. "Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered."' Mrs. Barker met the look in Esther's eyes, and was absolutely dumb. 'Don't you know that?' 'I've heerd it, mum.' 'Well, you understand it?' 'If you please, Miss Esther, I think a body could be that knowed it; that same, I mean.' 'How can anybody be happy that does _not_ know it?' 'True enough, mum; but how is anybody to know it for sure, Miss Esther?' '_I_ know it, Barker.' '_You_, Miss Esther! Yes, mum, that's easy, when you never did nothin' wrong in your life. 'Tain't the way with the likes o' us.' 'It is not the way with anybody. Nothing but the blood of Christ can make any one clean. But that will. And don't you see, Barker, _that_ is being happy?' There was indeed no dissent in the good woman's eyes, but she said nothing. Esther presently went on. 'Now I will tell you another word. Listen. "Blessed is the man whose strength the Lord is." Don't you think so, Barker? Don't you see? He _can never be weak_.' 'Miss Esther, you do speak beautiful!' came out at last the housekeeper. 'Don't you think that is being happy?' 'It do sound so, mum.'