"
"Who said he wouldn't?" Dr. Lavendar demanded, fiercely, while Danny
yawned with embarrassment at hearing his own name.
"You read about heaven in the Bible," David said, suddenly shy; "an'
it said outside were dogs;--an' some other animals I can't remember
the names of."
Dr. Lavendar explained with a twinkle that shared with his visitor the
humor of those "other animals" itemized in the Revelations. It was a
very mild humor; everything was mild at the Rectory; the very air
seemed gentle! There was no apprehension, no excitement, no
antagonism; only the placid commonplace of goodness and affection.
Helena could not remember such an evening in all her life. And the
friendship between youth and age was something she had never dreamed
of. She saw David slip from his chair at table, and run around to Dr.
Lavendar's side to reach up and whisper in his ear,--oh, if he would
but put his cheek against hers, and whisper in her ear!
The result of that secret colloquy was that David knelt down in front
of the dining-room fire, and made a slice of smoky toast for Dr.
Lavendar.
"After supper you might roast an apple for Mrs. Richie," the old
minister suggested. And David's eyes shone with silent joy. With
anxious deliberation he picked out an apple from the silver wire
basket on the sideboard; and when they went into the study, he
presented a thread to Mrs. Richie.
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