didn't know what to say, but that's what I like to remember.'
'And the Church-going on Christmas day,' whispered Marian.
'Ay, she led me up,' said Lionel.
'Everything is so very comforting,' said Marian.
'So Walter says.'
'Lionel, do you remember the print you and Gerald gave me long ago of S. Margaret walking through the dark wood of this world, and subduing the dragon? I am sure she is like it. She had all this world before her, and she chose vexation and trouble instead of doing wrong! O Lionel, it is very noble!'
'That it is,' said Lionel, 'only things never seem so at the time. I wish they did, but. I am glad my father saw it all right before, and said he was glad she had given him up.'
'Yes, that is a comfort.'
'My poor father!' said Lionel presently, 'I never guessed he cared so much about--things. Do you know, Marian, I think even if I do get back my eyes, I could not go after the Australian bulls, unless 'twas the only way of getting a living.'
'I am glad you have put them out of your head,' said Marian, smiling sadly.
'Ay, I was very mad upon them once,' said Lionel, 'but I see that eyes or no eyes, we must set ourselves in earnest to be some sort of comfort to them, and if Johnny is to be always at sea, I had better not be on the other side of the world. If I am to see, why then it is all right; if not, I'll do the best I can at home.'
'That's right, Lionel.'
'I can do a good deal already, I am no trouble to any one, am I? I can go all over the house and park by myself, and find all my own goods without any one's help, and I'll do more in time, so as to be no bother to any one, and I do believe now they like to have me at home. Don't you remember, Marian,' and he lowered his voice confidentially, one reason why I wanted to go to Australia, and make a fortune?'
'Yes,' said Marian, knowing that he meant his vision of winning love from his parents.
'Well, I think,' said he, 'that being blind has answered as well.'
A silence, then he went on, 'I know what you meant now about a time when I might he glad to have been blind. If Caroline had married that man, she would not have died as happily as that, and there was an end of all the trouble and vexation; so there will be an end to my blindness some time or other, and it will keep me out of lots of mischief. I don't mean that there is not plenty of opportunity of doing wrong as it is,' he added, 'but not so much. Better be blind than like Elliot, and perhaps I might have come to that.'
'O Lionel, it is such a comfort you can speak so!'
'I've tried it now, and 'tis not so very bad,' said Lionel, turning with an odd mixture of smile and sadness, 'besides I saw almost the last of her face, and I should only miss her the more like her voice. I have got her face stored up with all of yours. You know I shan't see when any of you grow old and ugly, Marian. Well, and after all I am glad it is to be settled now, I don't think I shall mind it near so much as I should another time, now I have just heard all that over her grave. I got Walter to read it to me all over again when we came home. It has been very nice to have Walter.'
Marian guessed how Walter had strengthened and helped him, and she judged rightly, but she did not know how silently he listened to all Walter's talkings and readings, unable to pour out his full feeling to any one but herself.
The others came in from their different quarters, it was late, and Marian was about to wish good night, when Walter in a low hurried voice said to her and Clara, 'Don't go yet, my father wishes to have prayers.'
