And John led the laugh at the picture he had conjured up, to turn the thoughts of Di's dangerous sister from himself. 

 At ten Nan retired into the depths of her old bonnet with a far different face from the one she brought out of it, and John, resuming his hat, mounted guard. 

 "Don't stay late, remember, John!" And in Mrs. Lord's voice there was a warning tone that her son interpreted aright. 

 "I'll not forget, mother." 

 And he kept his word; for though Philip's happiness floated temptingly before him, and the little figure at his side had never seemed so dear, he ignored the bland winds, the tender night, and set a seal upon his lips, thinking manfully within himself. "I see many signs of promise in her happy face; but I will wait and hope a little longer for her sake." 

 "Where is father, Sally?" asked Nan, as that functionary appeared, blinking owlishly, but utterly repudiating the idea of sleep. 

 "He went down the garding, miss, when the gentlemen cleared, bein' a little flustered by the goin's on. Shall I fetch him in?" asked Sally, as irreverently as if her master were a bag of meal. 

 "No, we will go ourselves." And slowly the two paced down the leaf-strewn walk. 

 Fields of yellow grain were waving on the hill-side, and sere corn blades rustled in the wind, from the orchard came the scent of ripening fruit, and all the garden-plots lay ready to yield up their humble offerings to their master's hand. But in the silence of the night a greater Reaper had passed by, gathering in the harvest of a righteous life, and leaving only tender memories for the gleaners who had come so late. 

 The old man sat in the shadow of the tree his own hands planted; its fruit boughs shone ruddily, and its leaves still whispered the low lullaby that hushed him to his rest. 

 "How fast he sleeps! Poor father! I should have come before and made it pleasant for him." 

 As she spoke, Nan lifted up the head bent down upon his breast, and kissed his pallid cheek. 

 "Oh, John, this is not sleep." 

 "Yes, dear, the happiest he will ever know." 

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