So it was decided, and Mr. Wenck went away, having declined the entreaty of Mrs. Loretz to fill a seat at their supper-table. Slowly walking back to his lonely house, which had never seemed so lonely, so desolate to him, Mr. Wenck saw little Charles Hummel, who was going in the same direction and homeward. He had been looking for Charley, for he had heard one of the children say that he was in the school-room with the teacher last, and so he took the boy's hand, and they walked along together. "Are you all prepared with your pieces, Charley?" the minister asked. "Oh yes, sir, but now we shall not sing them." "And why will you not sing them, my boy?" "Because there will not be any celebration--will there, sir?" "Certainly: why should there not?" "What, sir! to-morrow night, just the same?" "Do you think that Sister Benigna would approve of our having no congregation festival?" "Why, sir, you know--don't you know? I saw them carrying her from the school-room. She--she--" "Yes, I know all," said the minister: "she is gone home. But then she will know about our celebration: oh yes, just the same: it must be that she will hear all the sweet voices. It seems far away to us where she is: perhaps it has seemed so, but she brings heaven nearer: it is surely but a step to the Better Land." It had appeared almost impossible for Mr. Wenck to speak in Loretz's house, but now words came so freely to his lips that he seemed even to find comfort in speech. The boy had now reached his father's house, and would have gone in, but the minister with gentle force retained the small hand he held, and said, "Let us walk on a little farther, Charley. How beautiful the moon is to-night! Were you in the school-room to-day, my boy?" "I was there this afternoon, sir," said the little lad, awed by the sound of his own voice's gentleness--so gently the minister spoke he could himself speak in no other way. But he would not have liked the boys to hear him, and he looked around as if to see if any one followed, and was a little startled when he saw his shadow and the shadow of Mr. Wenck following so close. "When I come to speak to the congregation about her I shall want to tell them all about to-day," said Mr. Wenck, "if there is anything it would be pleasant for them to know. Do you remember anything she--she said or did, Charley?" The boy thought a moment. "It was just the same as always," said he. "Did you practice your songs this afternoon?" "Yes, sir, we practiced them." "For the last time, and you did not know it!" Would that little lad remember, when he came to manhood, this hour and these words? Would he from that noonday sun receive a light that could enlighten the mystery of this pallid, shadowy hour which filled his little being with such awe?