'Dear Aunt Milly, you always say such comforting things. I thought I was only doing nothing but give you trouble.'
'There you were wrong, Olive; every time you suppress an impatient sigh, every time you call up a smile to cheer us, you are advancing a step, gaining a momentary advantage over your old enemy; you know my favourite verses--
"Broadest streams from narrowest sources, Noblest trees from meanest seeds, Mighty ends from small beginnings, From lowly promise lofty deeds.
"Acorns which the winds have scattered, Future navies may provide; Thoughts at midnight, whispered lowly, Prove a people's future guide."
I am a firm believer in little efforts, Olive.'
Olive was silent for a few minutes, but she appeared thinking deeply; but when she spoke next it was in a calmer tone.
'After all, Aunt Milly, want of courage is my greatest fault.'
'I am so afraid of responsibility that it seemed easier to die than to face it. You were right; I was selfish to want to leave you all.'
'You must try to rejoice with us that you are spared.'
'Yes, I will try,' with a sigh; but as she began to look white and exhausted, Mildred thought it wiser to drop the conversation.
The family circle was again complete in the vicarage, and in the evenings a part of the family always gathered in the sickroom. This was hailed as a great privilege by the younger members--Roy, Polly, and Chriss eagerly disputing it. It was an understood thing that Richard should be always there; Olive seemed restless without him. Roy was her next favourite; his gentleness and affection seemed to soothe her; but Mildred noticed that Polly's bright flow of spirits somewhat oppressed her, and it was not easy to check Chriss's voluble tongue.
One evening Ethel was admitted. She had pleaded so hard that Richard had at last overcome Olive's shrinking reluctance to face any one outside the family circle; but even Olive's timidity was not proof against Ethel's endearing ways; and as Miss Trelawny, shocked and distressed at her changed appearance, folded the girl silently in her arms, the tears gathered to her eyes, and for a moment she seemed unable to speak.
'You must not be so sorry,' whispered Olive, gratefully; 'Aunt Milly will soon nurse me quite well.'
