"And yet, when you were in pain the other day, I heard you call loudly,
'God help me!'"
"Oh, well, I suppose it is a kind of instinct--a habit one gets into,
like any other exclamation."
"I think not," said the old man. "I believe that in your inmost, soul is
a conviction that there is a God. Don't you remember hearing that
Voltaire, with almost his last breath, said, 'Et pourtant, il y a un
Dieu!'"
Returning on deck, Mr. Cameron took his watch beside the young
Highlander. There was no return of consciousness, and very soon the
happy spirit freed itself from its earthly tenement without a struggle.
Next morning they consigned all that was mortal of him to the deep, in
sure and certain hope that he shall rise again. God knows where to find
His own, whether in the quiet leafy "God's acre," or in the depths of
the sea.
* * * * *
The year was advancing. It was towards the end of February. At Gibraltar
great excitement prevailed in the house perched on the side of the
"Rock." Major Somerset and his wife were expected! Norah paused suddenly
to look out over the blue expanse of sea, to-day ruffled with a slight
breeze--and then exclaimed:
"Children! children! come, a steamer with the British flag is coming in!
Hurry and get on your things."
There was no need for urging them to haste--the outdoor wrappings were
on in no time, and they ran down to the landing-stage just as the ship
had cast anchor.
Pages:
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425