Her heart stood still for a moment. Then she ran up noiselessly, and found that it was Queenie crying in her bed, refusing even to be pacified by Barbara's tender comfort. She had missed her nurse, and receiving no answer to her whispered inquiries about her brother, her resolution had broken down, and she had begun a little wail of woe, which had brought Barbara to her side, just as Lucia heard it too. Lucia lifted her from her bed, and soothed her in her arms, telling her that Evan was a little better, and that nurse was with him, till the sobs ceased, and the little arms clung round her neck, not only frightenedly, but lovingly. "Tell me some more," said Queenie. "Look at the stars, Queenie; see how bright the sky is! The moon is under that cloud, but the stars are shining up in heaven so beautifully. When we are sad, and look at the stars, it ought to make us happy. Shall I tell you why?" "But nurse says Evan is goin' to die!" said Queenie convulsively. "She said it was Ivor's fault, and—I don't like havin' Evan die!" "No, dear. But do you know, Queenie, why I want you to look at the stars?" Queenie gave a quick little glance upward, and then hid her face again in her sister's neck. "It is because they tell us of God's great love, Queenie! He holds the stars up in the sky, and He holds Evan in His hand too; so we must trust Him, Queenie, because He loves us so much." Queenie's little lips kissed her over and over, and her arms clung confidingly round her. "I won't cry any more," she whispered. "That is right, darling. May I put you back into bed now?" "Yes." "I will come and tell you if the doctor says Evan is better. And you can ask God, Queenie. There is nothing so good as telling God." So Queenie nestled into her pillow, closed her eyes with a peaceful look, and Lucia crept downstairs again, her own heart comforted and cheered. After the doctor had looked in late that night, Lucia kept her promise, and bent over her little sister's crib. "Darling!" she whispered. "Yes?" said Queenie, rousing herself quickly. "God has made Evan better; the doctor says there is a wonderful change in him these last two hours." "I'm so d'lad," whispered the child back. "I 'fought He would, Lucia." CHAPTER XI. EVAN IS GLAD. EVAN'S illness made a great impression on the little community at the cottage. It was many days before he was considered well enough to join his brother and sisters, and even then he was very weak, and was carried out under the trees, not caring to exert himself in the least. Ivor hovered round him, trying to show by his tender attentions how much he regretted his share in the trouble they had got into. One morning, as Lucia sat by his side with her painting, she saw he was looking at her very earnestly, and bent down to him to hear what he had to say.