Will you pray for him?"

"Yes, uncle," replied the child softly. "And will you tell me his name?"

"No, I cannot do that."

Something in his face made his little niece refrain from asking further
questions. She left him a moment later, and Sir Edward went to the
smoking-room and seated himself in a chair by the fire. The chimes of
the village church were ringing out merrily, and presently outside in
the avenue a little company of carol singers were singing the sweet old
Christmas truths that none can hear untouched.

"_Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men_."

A sense of the love of God seemed to surround his soul, and this verse
came into his mind as he mused:--

"_I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with
loving-kindness have I drawn thee_."

Could he not trace in the events of the last few months the hand of a
loving Father gently calling His wanderer home? Stricken down himself,
placed on a sick bed for reflection, brought to the edge of the valley
of the shadow of death, and then tenderly restored to life and health;
the gentle voice and life of a little child pleading with him day by
day, and that life having so lately been miraculously preserved from a
great danger--all this filled his heart with the realization of the
mercy and loving-kindness of God; and when again the past came up before
him, and the tempter drew near again with the old refrain, "You have
wandered too long, you have hardened your heart, and God has shut his
ear to your cry!" Sir Edward, by the help and power of the Divine
Spirit, was able to look up, and say from the depths of his heart,--

"_Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in Thy sight, and am no more
worthy to be called Thy son."_

They were sitting in the study the next afternoon, the child upon his
knee, when Sir Edward said suddenly,--

"Do you know that I have received a letter to-day about you?"

"Who from?" asked Milly, with interest.

"From my sister, your aunt, in Australia. I wrote to her when you came,
and she wants to have you out there, and bring you up among her own
children. She says a friend of hers will take charge of you and take you
to her next month. I must talk to nurse about it."

The little hands clutched hold of his coat sleeve tightly, but not a
word did Milly say. Sir Edward noted a slight quivering of the lips, and
a piteous gleam in the soft brown eyes. He waited in silence for a
moment, the