It was a way of hers, perhaps from being less strong
than the others, if once she started in a cry she could not leave
off.
Susan told Miss Fosbrook so; and the boys tried to drag her on with a
promise of a blackbird's nest; but she thought them unfeeling to such
woeful distress, and first tried to reason with Bessie, then to
soothe her, till at last, finding all in vain, she thought bed the
only place for the child, and led her into the house, helped her,
still shaking with sobs, to undress, and was going to see her lie
down in the bed which she shared with Susan. Elizabeth was still
young enough to say her prayers aloud. The words came out in the
middle of choking sobs, not as if she were much attending to them.
Miss Fosbrook knelt down by her as she was going to rise, and said in
her own words,
"Most merciful God, give unto this Thy child the spirit of content,
and the spirit of love, that she may bear patiently all the little
trials that hurt and vex her, and win her way as Thy good soldier and
servant. Amen."
Elizabeth held her breath to listen. It was new and odd.
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