Beryl's Triumph by Eglanton Thorne

TWO days later, the body of Louis Despard was committed to the earth. Little Coral had been told that the sea had robbed her of her father, and she cried heartily at the thought that she should see him no more. But she was too young to realise the greatness of her loss, and her tears, like most tears of childhood, were quickly dried. Every one was so kind to her, and petted her so freely, Beryl was such a delightful companion, and there were so many strange and pretty things to be seen in the new place in which she found herself, that the child's mind refused to dwell long on its grief.

But both the children shed tears as they stood by Mr. Hollys' side in the churchyard, and saw the coffin lowered into the cold, dark grave. It was a new, mysterious experience for Beryl.

She had heard and known of Death, but it had never come thus near to her before. It was as if a grim shadow had fallen across the sunshine of her life, and it seemed to her that now the coming days could not be so joyous as the past had been. Strange thoughts were working in the child's mind as she stood beside that open grave.

She listened with a dull, aching wonder to the words which the rector was reading, and wished that some one would explain them to her.

Soon the last words were uttered, and as the little crowd turned away, Mr. Hollys drew the children nearer to the grave, that they might drop into it the flowers they carried.

Guy Hollys' spirit was moved within him, for he was reminded of that day of sorrow many years ago, when he had seen his young love laid to rest in the bosom of the earth. Not many yards from where they stood, rose the marble cross which marked the place where she slept. He led the children to the spot ere they left the churchyard.

Beryl knew it well, for Lucy had thought it right, when she was but a tiny child, to bring her frequently to see her mother's grave. She could have repeated without looking the words inscribed on the marble cross: -

Sacred to the Memory of / MARGARETTA HOLLYS, / the beloved wife of Guy Hollys, Esq., / of Egloshayle House, / who died June 14, 18-, in the 20th year of her age.

"I believe in the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting."

Often as Beryl had read these last words, she had never before desired to know their meaning; but now, as she glanced at them, there came an eager, almost painful longing to understand what they signified.

"Papa," she startled him by asking, "what is the resurrection; what does it mean?"

The question seemed to embarrass him. His eyes fell beneath his child's open glance; he coloured, and his foot uneasily tapped the gravel.

"I can hardly explain it to you, child," he said. "When you are older you will understand."

"But I want to know now," said Beryl.

Her father made no reply, but turned to lead the way home. Yet he inwardly reproached himself for having thus evaded his child's question. Could it be that Beryl knew nothing of the truths of religion? Surely his sister might have seen that the child learned her Catechism, and had some religious instruction.

Had her mother lived, he was certain that long ere this, Beryl would have known something of the mysteries of life and death, as far as it was possible that they could be explained to a child. He could fancy in what simple, tender language Margaretta would have talked to the child, of the Lord in whom she so surely believed.

Ah! It was a great loss for poor little Beryl, the loss of a mother's love and training.

He felt himself quite unable to answer her question in a way that would be comprehensible to her. The doctrines of Christianity, if grasped by his intellect, were not loved by his heart. He scarcely knew how the words which had suggested her question came to be upon the tombstone. Perhaps the rector had thought it proper that they should be added as a fitting expression of the faith of the deceased.

"The resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. " Were they verities to him? He supposed so; he repeated the words as part of his creed whenever he went to church, which was not every Sunday, however. But he could give no precise form to his belief. Beryl's question had made him uncomfortably aware that he too was ignorant, and needed teaching.

Well, he must see to it that the child had a teacher; he would enquire about a governess when he next went to town. He blamed himself now that he had not done so before, for was he not wronging the memory of his gentle wife, if he allowed her child to grow up ignorant and irreligious? Had not some one said that women without religious faith were angels who had lost their wings?