When Haldane came down the following morning he found Bertha playing on the piazza as unconscious of the loss of her father as the birds singing among the trees of their master. Amy soon joined them, and Haldane saw that her eyes had the same appealing and indescribable expression, both of sadness and terror, reminding one of some timid and beautiful animal that had been brought to bay by an enemy that was feared inexpressibly, but from which there seemed no escape.
He took her hand with a strong and reassuring pressure.
"Oh," she exclaimed with a slight shudder, "how can the sun shine? The birds, too, are singing as if there were no death and sorrow in the world."
"Only a perfect faith, Miss Amy, can enable us, who do know there is death and sorrow, to follow their example."
"It's all a black mystery to me," she replied, turning away.
"So it was to me once."
An old colored man, the husband of the negress who had assisted Haldane in his watch, now appeared and announced breakfast.
It was a comparatively silent meal, little Bertha doing most of the talking. Amy would not have touched a mouthful had it not been for Haldane's persuasion.
As soon as Bertha had finished, she said to Haldane: "Amy told me that you did papa ever so much good last evening: now I want to see him right away."
"Does she not know?" asked Haldane in a low tone.
Amy shook her head. "It's too awful. What can I tell her?" she faltered.
"It is indeed inexpressibly sad, but I think I can tell the child without its seeming awful to her, and yet tell her the truth," he replied. "Shall I try to explain?"
"Yes, and let me listen, too, if you can rob the event of any of its unutterable horror."
"Will Bertie come and listen to me if I will tell her about papa?"
The child climbed into his lap at once, and turned her large blue eyes up to his in perfect faith.
"Don't you remember that papa spoke last night of leaving you; but said you would surely meet again?"
At this the child's lip began to quiver, and she said: "But papa always comes and kisses me good-by before he goes away."
"Perhaps he did, Bertie, when you were asleep in your crib last night."
"Oh yes, now I'm sure he did if he's gone away, 'cause I 'member he once woke me up kissing me good-by."
"I think he kissed you very softly, and so you didn't wake. Our dear Saviour, Jesus, came last night, and papa went away with him. But he loves you just as much as ever, and he isn't sick any more, and you will surely see him again."