Inthemorningshegotupfromhersleeplessbed，seemedtoeatherbreakfast，andwentofftoherhospital。Thereshewashedupplatesanddishes，withastonyface，darkundertheeyes。
ThenewscametoPiersoninaletterfromThirza，receivedatlunch—
time。Hereaditwithadreadfulaching。Poor，poorlittleNollie！
Whatanawfultroubleforher！Andhe，too，wentabouthisworkwiththenightmarethoughtthathehadtobreakthenewstoherthatevening。Neverhadhefeltmorelonely，moredreadfullyinwantofthemotherofhischildren。Shewouldhaveknownhowtosoothe，howtocomfort。Onherheartthechildcouldhavesobbedawaygrief。
Andallthathour，fromseventoeight，whenhewasusuallyinreadinesstofulfilthefunctionsofGod’ssubstitutetohisparishioners，hespentinprayerofhisown，forguidancehowtoinflictandhealthisblow。When，atlast，Noelcame，heopened。