"Always," she said to herself; "so that must mean to-day. 'Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?'" She bent her head over the little golden one, and clasped her arms tighter round the trembling little form, and then she said softly: "Minnie, have you read our text since father and mother went?" Minnie listened, but only for an instant, then she sobbed louder than ever. "Minnie," again pursued Agnes, "do you think you are carrying out what _He_ would have you do?" Minnie stopped a little, and clung more lovingly than before to her sister's waist. "We must be sorry they are gone; we can't help it, and I don't think Jesus wants us to help it; but we ought not to give way to such grief as to seem rebellious to what He has ordered." "Do you think I am?" asked the child brokenly. "What do you think yourself?" "I don't know," hesitating. "Well, think about it for a moment. Look here. Minnie, I want to put up these things that are scattered about, so I will lay you on the sofa and cover you up warm; then you can think about it while you watch me. Come, Alice dear, you and I shall soon make things look brighter if we try." Alice had been standing gazing rather forlornly at Minnie, but now turned round with alacrity. To do something would divert her sorrowful thoughts. By-and-by a heavy sigh from Minnie made her sisters look at her. There she lay like a picture, her long curls tossed about over the sofa cushion like a halo, her dark eyelashes resting on her flushed cheeks, where the tears were hardly dry, asleep. "What a good thing," said Alice in a low tone. "I thought she would cry herself ill." "Yes, I am glad," answered Agnes, looking down upon her. "But, Alice, the boys will be back before we have done if we stand talking." "Then we won't. Agnes, did not aunt Phyllis say she would come in early?" "Yes; but I hope she will not till we have put away everything. Just take up that heap and come upstairs with me, Alice; and then run down for that one, will you? You don't mind?" "I'm not going to 'mind' anything, as Hugh says," answered Alice earnestly, a tear just sparkling in the corner of her eye. "That's a dear girl; it will make everything so much easier if you do that." "I mean to try." They left the room, closing the door after them, and went up with their loads--papers, string, packing-canvas, cardboard boxes, rubbish, shawls, and what not. Agnes placed the various things in their places, while Alice watched and handed them to her, and at last all was done and the girls ran down, just as a double rap sounded through the hall. "That's auntie's knock, I shall open it," exclaimed Alice, and in a moment she admitted a little lady, whose pale delicate face and stooping attitude betokened constant ill health. "Well, my dears," she said cheerfully, "I knew you would have a few things to do after such an early starting, so I waited for a little time. Are the boys back yet?"