I am a coward, I know, about hearing of animals'
pains, but I must get over it, I want to know how they suffer. I _ought_
to know, for when I get to be a woman, I am going to do all I can to
help them."
"And I'll join you," said Mr. Maxwell, stretching out his hand to Miss
Laura. She did not smile, but looking very earnestly at him, she held it
clasped in her own. "You will help me to care for them, will you?" she
said.
"Yes, I promise," he said, gravely. "I'll give myself to the service of
dumb animals, if you will."
"And I, too," said Mr. Harry, in his deep voice, laying his hand across
theirs. Mrs. Wood stood looking at their three fresh, eager, young
faces, with tears in her eyes. Just as they all stood silently for an
instant, the old village clergyman came into the room from the hall. He
must have heard what they said, for before they could move he had laid
his hands on their three brown heads. "Bless you, my children," he said,
"God will lift up the light of his countenance upon you, for you have
given yourselves to a noble work. In serving dumb creatures, you are
ennobling the human race."
Then he sat down in a chair and looked at them.
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