"All I could spare. I do not grudge a drop of it."

Then Jane laid her arm across her mother's shoulders and looked lovingly
at her. "I am so glad," she said. "You may value money highly, mother,
but you can cast it away for higher things."

"I hope I should never hesitate about that, Jane. A baby's life is worth
all the money I have"--and Jane sighed and went home with a new thought
in her heart.

She found John and his little daughter in the garden planting bulbs and
setting out hardy geraniums. She joined them, and then she saw the old,
steadfast light on her husband's face and the old sure smile around his
mouth. She put her hand in his hand and looked at him with a question in
her loving eyes. He smiled and nodded slightly and drew her hand through
his arm.

"Let us go into the house," he said. "The evenings are yet chilly"--and
they walked together silently and were happy without thought or
intention of being happy. A little later as they sat alone, Jane said,
"You look so much better than you have done lately, John. Have you had
any good news?"

"Yes, my dear one--the best of news."

"Who brought it?"

"One who never yet deceived me."

"You know it to be true?"

"Beyond a doubt. My darling, I have been thinking of the sad time you
have had here."

"I hope I have done some good, John."

"You have done a great deal of good. The trouble is nearly over, it will
be quite over in a few weeks. Now you could go to London and see your
aunt. A change will do you good."

"Cannot you and Martha go with me? You have nothing to do yet."

"I shall have plenty to do in a short time. I must be preparing for it."

"Then I must be content with Martha. It will be good for the child to
have a change."

"Oh, I could not part with both you and Martha!"

"Nor could I part with both you and Martha. Besides, who is to watch
over the child? She would be too much alone. I should be miserable in
London without her."

"I thought while you were in London, I would have the house thoroughly
cleaned and renovated. I would open it up to every wind of heaven and
let them blow away all sad, anxious thoughts lurking in the corners and
curtains."

"O John, I would like that so much! It would be a great comfort to me.
But you can see that Martha would be running about cold and warm, wet
and dry, and her old nurse went to Shipley when she left here."

"I have considered these things, Jane, and decided that I would take
Martha