"Till they come of age!" she repeated,—"that 'll be twalve year. Eh, Minister, but Ise sorry for ye!"
The minister started. Set before him so clearly, the prospect made him a little sorry for himself; but he put the momentary weakness by.
"Eppie, my woman," he said gently and yet firmly, " this is a hard thing for you, I know well. But the Lord has sent me a new task, and I have no choice but to do it. If you find you can't thole the bairns about the house, why, you must e'en go your ways; but I've a notion that you'll take more kindly than you think, to Annie's lads."
"Annie's lads"—the simple words went straight to the woman's heart, and, for the first time in many years, Eppie broke down and cried.
The minister cleared his throat, and walked to the window. After a minute or two he said quietly, "I 'll be taking
