Perhaps to Dickie that month in the country seemed to him afterwards as but one brief day filled with the birds' song. All day long the two sat out under the apple-trees basking in the sunshine, and listening to the melodious sounds from the Hall farm. Dickie, in Meg's old little wooden chair, was learning to catch the song of the different birds, and would listen intently and patiently while Meg tried to teach him how to distinguish them. One day, seeing the lark soaring above their heads, she raised his hand, and pointed with his little finger as far as he could reach. "It is up in the sky, Dickie, oh, so high! singing God's praise," she said. And Dickie answered as he caught the sound-- "_God's_ hymn-book." "What did the child mean?" thought Meg, as she gathered him into her arms and kissed him again and again. "Was he thinking how Cherry sang out of her hymn-book at home? And what could the lark sing out of, but God's hymn-book?" She did not know; but she looked with awe into the little face, which already, to her mind, seemed to reflect the light of heaven. "Mother-Meg," said Dickie, all unconscious of her thoughts, "I should like to stay here always, 'cause the birds do sing so nice." "Yes, Dickie, so they do, but we couldn't stay here always, because of father-Jem and Cherry. They'll want us back again." "Yes, we can't stay away from Cherry, 'cause she takes care o' Dickie when you're not there; and I love father-Jem too." "We are going back to-morrow, Dickie; but some day I hope you and Cherry will both come and see my mother again." "She's very _kind_," nodded Dickie. "I'll come some day." Mrs. Archer, who was sitting by, quite appreciated the compliment. She smiled a little tearfully, however. "This has been a happy, peaceful month, Meg; I've enjoyed it as I never expected to enjoy anything on this earth again." So Meg and Dickie went back to smoky London; and when Cherry saw her little brother, she was fain to burst into tears of joy, so altered and improved was he. And Jem was equally pleased with Meg, and said she looked like the country girl he had brought away a year ago. As Dickie sat telling all his little news on Cherry's lap, he whispered earnestly-- "Cherry, I've heard 'em all day long. They sang Halleluia, like you!" When Cherry noticed that Meg was sufficiently at liberty to attend to her, while still holding Dickie tightly in her arms as if she could not part with him, she produced something mysteriously out of her pocket, and handed it to Meg. It was a little shabby purse, and when at her entreaty Meg opened it, it was found to contain ten whole shillings and a bright half-crown. "Those are my first earnings, mother-Meg," said Cherry, smiling and colouring, "and they are for you." "Not for me, dear; I shall put them away for you."