"And I told you I did not mean to be naughty; but I do believe I knew I ought not to have gone away, only I wanted so much to see the Queen that I would not let myself think." Lucia pressed her closely. "Dear little May! What a mercy it is for us, who do so many wrong things, that God can forgive us because Jesus bore our punishment." "Yes," whispered May. So Lucia put her back tenderly into bed, and then she went into her own room, and knelt down and humbly thanked God that He had made a way of escape for us guilty lost ones to come back to His bosom; that He is "just, and yet the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Lucia would not have believed, had she been told, the difference this episode would make in all their feelings. May was an altered child. Instead of being always not to be found, she was generally at her side, trying to please her in many little ways, and showing her gratitude and love by every means in her power. And as for herself, never before had she felt so small in her own eyes. The thought of her answered prayer, the thought of May's generous confession, humbled her to the dust; and then the thought of His goodness, who had wrought both by His love, lifted her up and sent her on her way rejoicing. CHAPTER VIII. MAY'S HEART'S DESIRE. AFTER all, little May did have her heart's desire! One day, when they were in the Long Walk, and were playing hide-and-seek among the elms, thinking of nothing but their play, an old man, who was standing watching them with a kindly gleam in his eyes, suddenly pulled himself up, and took off his old battered hat. "That's my gracious lady the Queen comin' down," he said quietly, "if you young folks 'ud stop playin' jest a moment." May started and turned white, and all the rest stood still with beating hearts as the carriage came swiftly down the hill. "She's the best lady in the land, and the best queen in the world," the old man said reverently. "May she wear a crown of glory that fadeth not away!" The Queen bowed to the little group of expectant faces, and in a moment her swift horses had carried her away. But the old man's words had taken the children's thoughts beyond this world's passing glory to that heavenly country where not only the sun never sets, but where the Lord God is the light, and all who love Him shall reign for ever and ever! * * * * * * * So the party settled down to more happiness that either nurse or Lucia had anticipated, and the days began to fly by, instead of dragging as they had done. Letters from their father and mother, too, brought good news, and also a welcome and unexpected enclosure for each of the children. Lucia's share had been her piano, the letter said; but the children were to have a little store of money, which they were to spend just as they liked, with only one stipulation, that they should keep an account of what they spent it on.