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+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75734 ***
+
+Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.
+
+[Illustration: THE BOYS AND SHE WERE AT DAGGERS DRAWN.]
+
+
+
+                        A THOUGHTLESS SEVEN
+
+
+                                BY
+
+                          AMY LE FEUVRE
+
+       AUTHOR OF "PROBABLE SONS," "TEDDY'S BUTTON," "ODD,"
+          "ERIC'S GOOD NEWS," "A PUZZLING PAIR," ETC.
+
+
+
+               _WITH TWENTY-SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS._
+
+
+                             LONDON
+                   THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
+        4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E.C.
+
+
+
+                       BY THE SAME AUTHOR
+
+
+     A Bit of Rough Road.        |   Miss Lavender's Boy, and
+     Heather's Mistress.         |     Other Sketches.
+     The Mender.                 |   Me and Nobbles.
+     Odd made Even. A sequel     |   Odd.
+       to "Odd."                 |   A Puzzling Pair.
+     The Carved Cupboard.        |   His Little Daughter.
+     On the Edge of a Moor.      |   Bulbs and Blossoms.
+     Dwell Deep; or, Hilda       |   Bunny's Friends.
+       Thorn's Life Story.       |   Eric's Good News.
+     Jill's Red Bag.             |   Probable Sons.
+     Legend Led.                 |   Teddy's Button.
+     A Little Maid.              |
+
+
+             LONDON: THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
+
+
+
+                             CONTENTS
+
+                               ————
+
+CHAP.
+
+    I. THOUGHTLESS
+
+   II. THINKING
+
+  III. STARTING
+
+   IV. TELLING
+
+    V. GROWING
+
+   VI. WORKING
+
+  VII. PRAYING
+
+ VIII. REAPING
+
+
+
+                        A THOUGHTLESS SEVEN
+
+                          [Illustration]
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+Thoughtless
+
+"SHE'S a good old soul in her way; but we are not infants in the
+nursery, and will manage a jolly sight better without her."
+
+"And we'll have a good fling while we are about it, I say. For she said
+she would be back in a week."
+
+"I shall do my best to keep order at mealtimes, of course; but I shan't
+be hard on you the rest of the day. Now, Doodle-doo, leave that cushion
+alone. Remember what the last one did."
+
+It was Sunday afternoon, and we were all enjoying ourselves in the
+schoolroom upstairs. Dinner was over; there was a deluge of rain coming
+down; and the blazing fire and a bag of chestnuts were keeping us busy.
+It is needless to say that we were not sitting up in chairs in the
+orthodox fashion. Pat, the eldest of us, in his eighteenth year, was
+reposing full length on our shabby old couch; Taters was astride on
+one end of it; Honey was seated on the coal-scuttle, her feet inside
+the fender; and Thunder and I were lying flat on the hearthrug; whilst
+Doodle-doo was changing his position every minute, and trying to make
+every one else do the same.
+
+Lest our names should be thought queer ones, I should explain that
+they were of our own coining; our baptismal ones were too respectable
+to find favour in our eyes. I went by the brief synonym of "Li," or
+"Lightning," as Thunder and I invariably did things together; and I
+certainly outdid them all in swiftness of thought and action.
+
+[Illustration: I BROUGHT DOWN THE TABLECLOTH TO THE GROUND.]
+
+We had just recovered from scarlet fever; our parents were abroad,
+and our good old German governess had suddenly been summoned home to
+a dying mother. Nurse was with us, of course; but Pixie, a delicate
+little fellow of six, who had fared the worst of us all in the fever,
+took up much of her time and attention, and we elder ones had long ago
+escaped and defiee her rule.
+
+"Throw us another nut," Pat demanded.
+
+I threw, aiming with such exact precision at his nose, that with a yell
+he sprang up and gave chase to me round the table. Round and round we
+spun, until I brought down the table-cloth to the ground, and with it a
+china flower-pot of mignonette.
+
+That sobered us, and we took up our former position again, Honey
+remarking, "I'm sure we ought to be better employed on Sunday afternoon
+than making such a row. Why don't some of you get a book to read?"
+
+"I've read all the Sunday books again and again," I said with a sigh,
+for books were my delight.
+
+"No one can keep pace with Li," observed Taters thoughtfully, as she
+left her seat to put another chestnut on the bars; "why don't you start
+reading the Bible? That would take you a few Sundays to get through."
+
+I stared at her. "The Bible! Why, no one reads that for the sake of
+reading."
+
+"What's the good of it, then?" demanded Taters, who was nothing if she
+was not argumentative.
+
+"To preach from, of course," put in Doodle-doo; "and if I had the
+chance, I wouldn't give such rotten sermons out of it as we heard this
+morning."
+
+"Well, come on; give us a sermon, if you are so good at it. We'll give
+you a chance, and a text too. Find him one, Li; there's a Bible on the
+bookshelf."
+
+I found the Bible that Pat indicated, opened it in a hurry, and called
+out the first words that met my eye—"'One thing thou lackest.'"
+
+Honey looked up gravely and sweetly. "You're not to make fun,
+Doodle-doo," she said.
+
+Doodle-doo held himself erect, and ruffled his cock's-comb, as we
+called it, in the importance of his position.
+
+"Ahem!" he began. "My sermon will be brief, but to the point. Pat, one
+thing thou lackest—'tis control of thy beastly temper. Honey, one thing
+thou lackest—'tis female tidiness. Taters, one thing thou lackest—'tis
+the knowledge that thou art an ignoramus. Thunder, one thing thou
+lackest—'tis a light and contented spirit. Lightning, one thing thou
+lackest—'tis patient perseverance."
+
+"And, Doodle-doo, one thing thou lackest," I put in hastily—"'tis the
+art of keeping thy cackling voice still."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Well, young people, what is the discussion?"
+
+We turned round, and found that Miss Moffat from next door had quietly
+opened the door and come in amongst us. She was a little old maid
+whom we all loved. All through our illness she had been in and out,
+changing her dress most carefully each time to avoid spreading the
+infection. Books and fruit had been plentifully supplied, and we were
+not surprised to see her hands full of books and papers now.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"A little Sunday reading, my dears. I thought you might be in want of
+some. Are you telling each other of your faults, may I ask?"
+
+"Doodle-doo is trying to preach," Tater said, her snub nose well in the
+air; "but his crows, like those of his namesake, are about nothing at
+all."
+
+"And what is the subject?"
+
+"'One thing thou lackest,' was the text I gave him," I said glibly.
+"Don't look so shocked, Miss Moffat; we weren't making fun of it."
+
+"It is a solemn verse to take up so lightly," said our friend gravely.
+"Do you know the occasion of our Lord's saying those words?"
+
+"Yes. Don't preach to us, there's a good soul;" and Pat threw up his
+long arms and stretched himself with a terrific yawn.
+
+"I am on my way to read to a blind woman," said Miss Moffitt briskly;
+"there are your books."
+
+Then looking over her spectacles at us in her quaint, sweet way, she
+said—
+
+"There is 'one thing lacking' with each one of you boys and girls. Try
+and find it out for yourselves, and let me know when you succeed in
+getting it. I should not like to see any of you one day 'weighed in the
+balances and found wanting.'"
+
+And then she left us.
+
+There was silence for a few minutes; we were busy distributing the
+literature which had been brought us.
+
+Then Thunder observed, knitting his black brows into a heavier frown
+than usual—
+
+"I shouldn't have thought little Moffat was a religious person; but you
+can never see through a woman—they're always up to artful dodges."
+
+"She isn't religious," Doodle-doo said; "she only wanted to add force
+to my little preach."
+
+"Shut up," said Pat, giving a kick at him as he passed the sofa; "my
+'beastly temper' won't stand a word more from you."
+
+"She's not a goody person, nor a prig," argued Taters, "so she can't be
+religious; and her face is as round and ruddy as an apple."
+
+"What is a religious person?" I asked. "I don't mean a hypocrite, but a
+real true one. What do they believe that we don't believe? Why should
+it be such an awfully canty thing to be good?"
+
+"Are you going to try it, Li?"
+
+"I sometimes think," said Honey meditatively, as she deliberately poked
+her slippered foot into the red-hot embers and stirred them into a
+blaze, "that after all 'we' may be the hypocrites. What did we kneel
+down and pray for in church this morning?—'Grant that we may hereafter
+live a godly, righteous, and sober life.' We haven't the smallest
+intention of doing it."
+
+"Don't talk rot!" was Pat's response to this.
+
+And, turning to our books, we dropped the subject.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+Thinking
+
+[Illustration] "WHAT'S the row with old Li?"
+
+"Give her a pinch, Thunder; she's half asleep."
+
+"She's planning some fiendish trick, I bet."
+
+We were at breakfast, and Honey, who was pouring out the coffee, looked
+across at me curiously after these remarks.
+
+"She was talking in her sleep last night, and jumping about like a
+dancing doll; I expect the chestnuts gave her indigestion."
+
+"Rubbish!" I said quickly. "If you had had the horrible dreams I had,
+you wouldn't feel very spry in the morning. It was awful; I didn't
+sleep a wink."
+
+"Li is a wonder," said Pat admiringly; "she dreams wide awake, and eats
+her breakfast fast asleep."
+
+I was about to retort angrily, when the door opened, and nurse appeared
+with Pixie. The seven years between him and Taters made him appear a
+perfect baby to us, and we all petted him accordingly. He was a pale,
+fragile little fellow, with a quaintness and courage all his own; but
+in spite of his old-fashioned talk, he was a thorough child.
+
+"I want one of you young ladies to take Master Lionel out this morning;
+it's my busy day," announced nurse.
+
+"All right; I'll take him," said I.
+
+"Don't walk him off his legs, and bring him in before twelve o'clock."
+
+Saying which, nurse departed; and we began to make our plans for the
+day. Pat and Doodle-doo were going out on their bicycles, Taters and
+Honey out shopping, and, after a little persuasion, Thunder said he
+would come to the common with Pixie and me. Our house was in a London
+suburb; but the common stretched away to green fields and lanes, and
+was a favourite resort of ours.
+
+Pixie, as usual, was full of talk, and beguiled the way by his
+extraordinary questions and ideas.
+
+It was a bright sunny morning, and wonderfully mild for the time of
+year; so when we arrived at the common, Thunder and I rested on one of
+the seats, whilst Pixie played about.
+
+"I wonder when Pater will write and suggest a change of air for us!"
+grumbled Thunder. "We ought to go off to the sea or somewhere! I don't
+think I shall ever be the same again as I was before that rotten fever!
+I'm quite fagged out now with this bit of a walk!"
+
+"Fancy if one of us had died!" I said lugubriously; for Thunder's
+remarks were never cheering, and I did not feel in a mood to comfort
+him. "You or I might have. If we had, I wonder what we should have been
+doing now?"
+
+Thunder's black brows scowled. "You needn't have such dismal fancies!"
+
+"Well, but," I persisted, "I half think I may be going to die; for
+I had such awful dreams last night! I can't help feeling they were
+warnings."
+
+"What were they like?"
+
+"I kept feeling myself in a pair of scales, and I couldn't make myself
+heavy enough to keep down—I would swing up in the air! I clutched hold
+of the sides of the scale, and pressed down with my whole weight, but
+it was no good, and all the time a voice kept repeating, like the tick
+of a clock, 'Weighed in the balances and found wanting! One thing thou
+lackest!' I woke up in an awful fright, and couldn't get to sleep for
+ages, and when I did, I dreamt again, that I was running for my life
+away from Miss Moffat, who, brandishing a red-hot poker close to my
+eyes, was shrieking out, 'One thing thou lackest!'"
+
+Thunder laughed.
+
+I added seriously, "We're a wicked lot, and I'm really and truly going
+to find out the one thing lacking with me. I won't stand another night
+like last night. What is it, Pixie?"
+
+[Illustration: "DID HE SEE ME JUST NOW WHEN I WAS PLAYING?"]
+
+He was standing before us with troubled eyes.
+
+"Is God looking out of the sky this morning?"
+
+"I suppose so," I said; "Why?"
+
+"Did He see me just now, when I was playing at killing a snake?"
+
+"What have you been doing?" I asked severely.
+
+"I've cut one of God's dear little worms into two pieces! Will He be
+angry?"
+
+"Go and stick them together again!" laughed Thunder.
+
+But tears were very near the surface with Pixie, and clasping his
+hands, he went on—
+
+"I was going to be 'such' a good boy to-day, and I didn't really mean
+to kill the little worm with my stick—it was too soft! Will God forgive
+me, do you think?"
+
+"Of course He will," I said impatiently; "you didn't mean to do it."
+Then, with a change of tone, I said, "Will you go to heaven if you die,
+Pixie?"
+
+He looked at me, then nodded. "Jesus loves Pixie, and Pixie wants to go
+to Him in heaven very much sometimes!"
+
+He ran away to play, and I said with a sigh, "He has got what we
+haven't. I shouldn't go to heaven if I died; neither would you, old
+Thun! Fancy the difference between Pixie's conscience and ours, if he
+thinks cutting a worm in two an awful sin!"
+
+Thunder remained silent for a little; then he said—
+
+"Being religious won't suit you, Li; don't you try it! You could never
+keep up being a prig, if you started!"
+
+"Look here!" I said warmly. "I don't intend being a prig; but if I like
+to turn religious I shall, and no one shall stop me!"
+
+I jumped up from the seat, and started running races with Pixie, whilst
+Thunder whipped out a thrilling tale from his pocket, and sat on
+reading till it was time to go home. I laughed and talked my loudest
+for the rest of the day; but I was miserable. "One thing thou lackest,"
+rang in my ears. And at last, after our evening meal was over, I
+slipped away from all the noise and laughter in the schoolroom, and
+went down to the dining-room, where a bright fire was blazing. Then,
+taking hold of a Bible I found there, I drew up a chair to the fire,
+and commenced studying the story of the young man who lacked the one
+thing.
+
+"I suppose," I said to myself, "that his fault was not following
+Christ; but it must be awfully difficult to lead a good life! I suppose
+if I was to start I should have to say prayers half an hour long, and
+be always reading the Bible, which is so dry. I should have to give up
+all fun, and story-books, and fighting with the boys; and then they'd
+all hate me, and vote me a prig! Oh, I couldn't do it! It would be as
+dull as ditch water! Yet I do want, oh, I do want to be sure of heaven!
+I know I'm not right; I know I'm awfully wicked. If only God would
+turn me suddenly into a saint without any trouble on my part! I'm sure
+some people get converted like that. Yet I don't want to be a regular
+goody-goody; I despise them so—they're always so full of cant. I don't
+know what I want. I should like to be right with God, and not be so
+afraid of Him! This young man went away grieved, it says; he couldn't
+do it. I suppose I shouldn't have to give up riches to follow Christ,
+because I haven't any to give up; but I should have to give up other
+things quite as bad."
+
+[Illustration: THEN, WITH A WHOOP AND A RUSH, IN TUMBLED DOODLE-DOO AND
+ TATERS! IN AN INSTANT I WAS ON MY FEET; STUFFING THE BIBLE
+ UNDER THE CUSHION OF MY CHAIR.]
+
+And so I meditated, and at last such an overwhelming sense of my own
+wickedness and shortcomings came over me that I dropped on my knees,
+and put up the first real prayer in life, though perhaps it may sound a
+queer one.
+
+   "O God, I'll follow Christ, if You'll make it easy for me. I don't want
+to be turned into a goody person, but I do want to be right at the
+Judgment Day. I do want my sins forgiven, but don't let me have to give
+up all fun. And will You put me straight at once—to-night? I can't stop
+till to-morrow."
+
+Then I waited for something to happen—some wonderful feeling to come
+over me; but it didn't come.
+
+And then, with a whoop and a rush, in tumbled Doodle-doo and Taters!
+
+In an instant I was on my feet; stuffing the Bible under the cushion of
+my chair.
+
+"Aha! We've caught the truant! She looks quite guilty. Take hold of her
+legs, Taters, and I'll take her arms, and we'll find out what she's
+been doing!"
+
+But I was not so easily caught, and for the next ten minutes we had a
+breathless chase through the house, until nurse held me fast.
+
+"Miss Mary, I'm ashamed of you! Nearly fifteen, and romping like a boy!
+Go to the schoolroom and be quiet. You've woke Master Lionel out of his
+first sleep, and now he'll be restless for an hour or so. How I wish
+Fräulein were here!"
+
+A wish poor nurse very often expressed!
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+Starting
+
+[Illustration] I LAY awake that night thinking.
+
+Honey and I shared the same room. She generally made me impatient
+by her leisurely movements, and I was often fast asleep long before
+she came to bed; but now I lay awake and listened to her heavy
+breathing—sleep would not come to me.
+
+Why had not God answered my prayer?
+
+I had been quite honest about it. How was it I felt just the same, and
+nothing had happened? And then again the refrain began in my ears, "One
+thing thou lackest. Weighed in the balances, and found wanting."
+
+"I do wish I had never found out that troublesome text! I suppose it is
+a judgment on me for treating it so lightly. I wonder what became of
+that young man; where is he now? I suppose he is either in heaven or
+hell this very minute; and if he is in hell, what would he give to have
+another chance—to have 'my' chance?"
+
+And then I could bear my thoughts no longer. Out of bed I crept; and,
+shivering, knelt in the darkness and cold.
+
+"O God, I'm afraid I wasn't in earnest. I'm in dead earnest now. I'll
+give up everything, and won't care what the others say, if only You
+will forgive and convert me. I'll give up all story-books if they're
+wicked, and will read nothing but the Bible. I'll follow Christ at all
+costs, however difficult and gloomy it will be. I 'must' be forgiven. I
+ask Thee now to save me, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."
+
+Again I laid my head down on my pillow, and this time was soon fast
+asleep, never waking till our maid came to call us the next morning.
+
+"You're rather silent, Li," said Honey, as she brushed out her golden
+hair. "Are you half asleep still?"
+
+"No; I'm very much awake," was my response. "I am having very serious
+thoughts. Honey, do you believe God answers prayer?"
+
+"I suppose so."
+
+"How do we know He does?"
+
+"By getting the answer, I should think. And, of course, the Bible says
+so."
+
+"Where?" And I rushed to a small table and took hold of my Bible at
+once.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"I don't know," said Honey, eyeing me perplexedly. "Isn't there a verse
+somewhere, 'Ask, and it shall be given you'?"
+
+"Yes, of course there is. The fact is, last night I asked God to—well,
+you know, convert me—make me a proper Christian, and I want to know if
+He has done it. I don't feel any different this morning. Do I look any
+different? Do you think He has done it?"
+
+"Li, you aren't making fun, are you?"
+
+"Fun! I'm in downright sober earnest! I'm going to follow Christ. I
+promised last night, so no more larks for me. I shall be reading my
+Bible most of the day—at least, do you think an hour a day would be
+enough to begin with?" My tone was rather pitiful, for the prospect
+seemed dreary.
+
+But Honey did not answer; she looked quite dazed.
+
+"If I only knew for certain God had answered me, I wouldn't mind," I
+went on; "but of course I have promised to live as a Christian, and
+I must try. You may have my skates, Honey; if we do get a frost this
+winter, I shall never skate again. I wonder if I ought to go to church
+every day?"
+
+"You sound as if you're going to die," observed Honey.
+
+"If I was sure it was all right with me, I should like to. I think
+directly people are ready for heaven they ought to go there. It is too
+tantalizing to be obliged to stay down here seeing other people having
+good times, and being out of them oneself. I don't know how I shall do
+it, but I'm going to have a try."
+
+Before we left our room in the morning, we always went through the form
+of kneeling by our bed for a minute. To-day I felt it was no longer a
+form; again I implored for pardon, and asked to be kept straight in the
+narrow path that led to life; and then we went down to breakfast.
+
+"If I were you, Li," said Honey on the staircase, "I wouldn't say
+anything to the boys about your feelings—not until you are more sure of
+yourself. I won't breathe a word."
+
+"I never can keep anything secret long," I said dubiously; "but I'll
+have a try."
+
+The boys did not trouble me; they were full of an expedition they had
+planned, and this was for all of us to go and see a bachelor uncle of
+ours who lived about twelve miles away.
+
+"We'll take him by surprise," said Pat; "I'll hire a trap from the
+livery stables round the corner, and drive you girls; and Doodle-doo
+and Thunder can come on their bikes. We shall have to start in about an
+hour. He is sure to stand us a jolly lunch, and it will be no end of a
+spree."
+
+"And who'll pay for the trap?" asked Taters.
+
+"Oh, I'll stand that! I've been saving lately, and you girls must pay
+me some of it back when you get your next pocket-money."
+
+It sounded delightful, but I wondered if I ought to go. However, as
+nurse seemed to agree to it, only telling Pat to be sure to choose a
+quiet horse, I thought I could safely venture.
+
+"And I will have a good read of my Bible when I come home, and say a
+few hymns to myself on the way. That will keep me in a religious frame
+of mind."
+
+With these resolves, I set off with the others, as lighthearted as
+any. Pat was a good driver. When father was at home, he was constantly
+driving round the country with him; and now, spinning along the high
+road with the fresh keen air blowing full in our faces, our spirits
+rose, and I talked more nonsense than any of them.
+
+As we drew near the house, Honey said, "Uncle Bob has never been near
+us since we were first taken ill. Suppose he should be afraid of the
+infection?"
+
+"That's just the fun of it," laughed Taters; "he won't be able to help
+himself, and I'll give him such a hug when I get near him!"
+
+[Illustration: "THAT'S JUST THE FUN OF IT," SAID TATERS.]
+
+"We're out of quarantine," said Pat, rather grandly, "and if the old
+chap shows the white feather, I'll soon bring him to reason."
+
+Alas! When we reached the house, the closed shutters told us that he
+was away.
+
+"Never mind," said Honey; "Mrs. Sykes will give us lunch."
+
+But this the old housekeeper did not seem disposed to do. She came to
+the door in her rustling black silk, and eyed us in stern disapproval.
+
+"Your uncle is away in London for a month. We heard you were all ill of
+the scarlet fever. It seems a very unseasonable day for you to be out;
+I should think you had better get home as quickly as possible, for I
+believe there is a storm coming."
+
+"That we're not going to do before having something to eat," said Pat
+determinedly. "Get out, girls; and Sykes will get us some bread and
+cheese, if she has nothing else in the house."
+
+In we all trooped, to Mrs. Sykes's great disgust; but she had a meal
+prepared for us which we thoroughly enjoyed, and then we spent the rest
+of our time rambling over the house and grounds, until Pat said we must
+return.
+
+"Give our love to the old chap!" shouted out Doodle-doo, as we were
+starting off in style from the front door. "He'll be awfully put out
+when he knows he has missed us."
+
+Mrs. Sykes muttered something like "A merciful escape!" and closed the
+door sharply in our faces.
+
+But we knew her ways, and only laughed.
+
+[Illustration: "GIVE OUR LOVE TO THE OLD CHAP!" SHOUTED DOODLE-DOO,
+ AS WE WERE STARTING OFF IN STYLE.]
+
+We had hardly got a mile away from the house, when down came a torrent
+of rain, and a severe storm burst full upon us.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+Telling
+
+NONE of us had umbrellas, and though we girls buttoned up our jackets
+and pulled the rugs well over our knees, we got soaked through. And
+then, as a vivid flash of lightning flashed upon us, followed by a
+deafening clap of thunder, our horse reared, then bolted.
+
+The trap swayed from side to side. Pat muttered between clenched teeth,
+"Sit still, and hold your tongues!"
+
+And still as death we sat, gripping hold of the back of the seat, and
+expecting every moment to be upset.
+
+[Illustration: OUR HORSE REARED, THEN BOLTED.]
+
+"Am I ready to die?" flashed through my mind; and again I sent up an
+agonizing cry,—
+
+   "O God, forgive, and save me!"
+
+We dashed on; the hedges seemed to fly past us; but the road was a
+straight and even one. Gradually the horse's pace slackened, and at
+last, with a tremendous effort, Pat was able to pull up. Then we looked
+at each other. Honey was as white as a sheet; Pat was wiping the
+perspiration from his brow; and Taters was the only one who laughed,
+but her laugh was an hysterical one.
+
+"A near shave for us!" was Pat's comment.
+
+And not another word did he say till we reached home, for we were all
+considerably sobered by our adventure.
+
+I crept away to my room as soon as I could, and thanked God on my
+knees for having preserved us. I felt, if He had heard and answered
+one prayer, He would another; and I went to bed that night a little
+comforted.
+
+
+The next morning I ran in next door to ask Miss Moffat for a book she
+had promised to lend Honey. I found her writing letters in her snug
+little sitting-room; but she turned round at once and made me sit down
+by the fire and have a chat with her. Somehow or other I soon found
+myself telling her all that was in my heart. She had a way of getting
+everything out of us, and I could never be reticent with her.
+
+"And do you think you have now got the 'one thing lacking,' my dear?"
+
+"I don't know. What do you say was the one thing lacking with that
+young man, Miss Moffat?"
+
+"He lacked union with Christ," Miss Moffat said softly. "He could not
+make up his mind to link his life on to our Lord's; and, believe me,
+Mary, you will never be able to live a happy Christian life unless you
+get in touch with your Saviour."
+
+"I don't think a Christian life can be a happy one," I said gloomily;
+"it is life with all the enjoyment taken out of it. But I've promised
+to live it, and I can't go back from it."
+
+Miss Moffat looked at me with something like tears in her eyes.
+
+"Oh, child, child, what a wrong start you are making! You say you have
+asked God to forgive you and save you. How can He do it, when He has
+said no sinner shall come into His presence?"
+
+"I suppose," said I thoughtfully, "He will do it because Christ died
+for sinners—Christ died for me."
+
+As I said the words a strange sense of peace crept into my heart.
+
+"Yes," Miss Moffat went on; "you have the right foundation. But if you
+have just been received into the fold, and have obtained forgiveness
+of sins, and the gift of eternal life—if you have been made an heir of
+glory—whom must you thank for it?"
+
+"The Lord Jesus Christ," I said slowly.
+
+"And doesn't your heart glow with the thought of all His love for you?
+Have you no word of thanks to Him? You talk as if you are to live a
+Christ-like life without Christ! The thing is impossible. Open your
+empty little heart to Him, and He will come in and flood your life with
+joy and gladness. A Christian life a gloomy one! Oh, how little, how
+very little, you know! Get linked on to Christ, my dear; get to know
+Him as your personal Friend, and you will find you love Him better
+every day you live—ah! And you'll get to understand a little of His
+mighty love for you!"
+
+Miss Moffat spoke enthusiastically. I could only stare at her, for her
+words then were above and beyond my comprehension.
+
+Then I sighed, though a spark of hope sprang up in my breast.
+
+"Do you think God has answered my prayer?" I asked.
+
+Miss Moffat turned over the leaves of her well-worn Bible.
+
+"'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our
+sins.' Faithful—for He never breaks His word; just—because Christ has
+suffered instead of us. What do you think, Mary?"
+
+I did not answer for a minute; then I said, "But I don't feel any
+different."
+
+"Let your feelings alone; rest on this verse. Run your finger along it
+every day, and say, 'God says this. I'll believe it, though I don't
+feel it.' If you keep on at that, the feeling will come. But your
+salvation does not depend on your feelings."
+
+I got up to go, and kissed our little friend enthusiastically.
+
+"You're a dear, Miss Moffat! You've comforted me a lot. And you don't
+think God wants to take away my pleasures if I'm a Christian?"
+
+Miss Moffat smiled.
+
+"He loves you, my child. He loves to see you happy. He will fill your
+life with blessing, if you are willing to let Him."
+
+I walked back to our house thinking. And then a few minutes after I
+burst into the schoolroom. The boys were cooking toffee; Taters was
+dressing our black cat in a paper frock and cap; and Honey was trying
+vainly to write a letter to mother. I flung Honey's book on the table.
+
+"I've something to tell you all!" I said.
+
+[Illustration: I TOOK UP THE SOFA CUSHIONS, AND FLUNG THEM
+ WITH ALL MY FORCE AT THE BOYS' HEADS.]
+
+"Hulloo! Anything grand? Why, Li is quite excited! Out with it; your
+eyes are nearly starting out of your head!"
+
+I stood erect, and faced them all.
+
+"It's something very good for me. I'm a Christian."
+
+A shout of laughter from the boys.
+
+"Just found that out? What are we? Heathen?"
+
+I was not disconcerted.
+
+"I tell you I'm quite different to what I was a few days ago. I found
+out the answer to Miss Moffat's question, and I'm going to be really
+and truly religious."
+
+Pat tapped his forehead significantly.
+
+"Poor Li! She has been rather queer the last day or two, but I didn't
+think it would come to this!"
+
+"Li pious! If you lived to be a hundred, you couldn't be: so don't you
+come here trying to green us!"
+
+Exasperated by these jeers, I took up the sofa cushions—our favourite
+implements of warfare—and flung them with all my force at the boys'
+heads, exclaiming hotly—
+
+"I am! I don't care what you say, and how you laugh! I know myself
+better than you do, and if I choose to be 'pious,' as you call it, I
+shall!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+And then, dashing out of the room, I rushed to our bedroom, and
+flinging myself on my bed, burst into tears.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+Growing
+
+[Illustration] "DINNER, my good woman! It's very easy to tell you what
+we should like for dinner. A good seaside one, of course! We'll begin
+with scalloped oysters, some broiled mackerel, and boiled cod, with
+shrimp sauce, lobster salad—"
+
+"Some starfish jelly, and limpet tart, and crab cream to follow—"
+
+"And seaweed sandwiches and salt-water ices to finish up with!"
+
+Our landlady's face was a picture, as these volleys were fired at her;
+and Fräulein turned upon us with a sharp rebuke.
+
+"Go down to the beach, and let me not see you till dinner! You are an
+overwhelming torrent when it is business that I wish to talk!"
+
+
+It was a fortnight later; Fräulein had returned to us at the end of a
+week, and, acting upon a letter she had received from our parents, had
+brought us all down to a seaside village on the sunny south coast.
+
+It was the beginning of March, early in the year for lodgers; but
+we liked the emptiness of the place, and were enjoying ourselves
+immensely. I did not find that my spiritual experiences were making
+my life less happy. Of course the boys teased me unmercifully. Every
+morning they would ask, "Still pious, Li? Isn't the fit over?"
+
+But as they always would tease about something, I did not mind; and
+found that I could laugh and joke with them the same as usual. Miss
+Moffat helped me a great deal; and I was beginning to like reading my
+Bible. Not that I could yet spend a long time over it without becoming
+weary; but Miss Moffat told me I must not expect to walk before I could
+crawl, and she advised me to read a short portion at a time, thinking
+over it, and praying to be taught.
+
+It was a cheering thought to me that God liked to see me happy. I never
+could keep grave for long, and my heart being at rest about the future,
+and at peace about my sins, made a wonderful difference to me.
+
+This morning, when we had scattered on the beach, and Thunder and I had
+taken refuge under a breakwater for a few minutes' rest, he turned to
+me and said, "I don't believe you're the genuine article, Li! It's a
+sham and delusion!"
+
+"What is?"
+
+[Illustration: "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'RE THE GENUINE ARTICLE, LI!
+ IT'S A SHAM AND DELUSION!"]
+
+"Your Christianity—or conversion—as you call it."
+
+"Why do you think so?"
+
+"Oh, because it hasn't changed you!"
+
+"I hope it has," I said soberly.
+
+"Well, you're just as cheeky as you always were; it hasn't lengthened
+your face, or choked the fun out of you."
+
+"I hope it never will; but it has made a lot of difference to me
+inside. I'm not afraid of God any more. I feel I belong to Him, and am
+getting to love Him. I think it's a very jolly thing to be a Christian,
+and I wish you would be one too."
+
+Thunder gave a short laugh. "It's well enough for girls; but if you
+were at a public school, as we are, you'd know a fellow couldn't be
+religious. There are a few who try it on, but they're in their own set,
+and are too slow for words!"
+
+"Well," said I quickly, "it's their own stupidity if it makes them
+slow; it isn't religion!"
+
+We were interrupted here by the breathless arrival of Doodle-doo and
+Taters.
+
+"Hi! You two, come on! We're going out for a sail!"
+
+I was on my feet instantly, and down at the water's edge the next
+minute, where Pat was holding a parley with the boatman, whose smart
+little craft lay by.
+
+"Now, look here, my good fellow," Pat was saying, "I wasn't born
+yesterday, and there won't be room for you. We either have the boat to
+ourselves, or we chuck up the sail altogether! Take your choice!"
+
+"I say!" I said aside to Honey. "The boys aren't going to take us out
+after what Fräulein said?"
+
+"Oh, bother Fräulein," said Honey: "she's such an old fuss! Pat has
+managed a sailing-boat before this."
+
+[Illustration: "I'M NOT COMING," I SAID, DRAWING BACK.]
+
+I was silent. It was a bright, sunny morning, and I longed to go. Yet
+only yesterday Fräulein had positively forbidden us girls to go in a
+sailing-boat without a proper boatman; and though I had not a particle
+of fear myself, my conscience was becoming more tender, and I felt we
+ought not to disobey her. Pat, meanwhile, had overruled the boatman's
+objections, and was marshalling us carefully into the boat.
+
+"I'm not coming," I said, drawing back. "You know we've been forbidden;
+and we could go for a row just as easy; Fräulein doesn't mind that."
+
+"Don't be a little fool!" was his quick rejoinder. "Old Fräu will have
+forgotten she gave such an order when she sees us back safe and sound!
+What has made you so unusually squeamish?"
+
+"It's her pious fit!" cried Doodle-doo. "Let the little dear alone!
+She's going to be a naughty girl no more!"
+
+"Come on; don't make an ass of yourself!" said Thunder, tugging hold
+of my arm as he spoke. "Weren't you saying just now that your religion
+wouldn't turn you into a molly-coddle?"
+
+"Are you afraid?" laughed Taters, already taking a seat in the boat.
+
+It was my first battle. Strangely enough, up to now nothing had
+happened to put my religion to the test.
+
+"I'm not afraid," I said slowly, looking wistfully at the boat; "but
+you're right—my religion won't let me go. I must be left behind."
+
+It seemed rather hard lines to me; but they were all so excited about
+getting off that they did not waste time in persuasion.
+
+[Illustration: IN PLAYING WITH PIXIE I FORGOT MY TROUBLE.]
+
+Pat called out, "Go back to old Fräu, and tell her of the wickedness
+of her pupils! In Sunday-school books we should all be drowned as a
+punishment! You and she had better watch on the beach for our bodies to
+be washed ashore!"
+
+I watched them go with tears in my eyes. Oh, it was hard sometimes to
+be good! Why were forbidden things so nice?
+
+And then Pixie came running up to me, and in playing with him I forgot
+my trouble. We built sand castles, and destroyed them; and then, tired
+out, I sat down on the shingle, and Pixie threw himself upon me.
+
+"Tell me a story, Li, 'bout one of those little ships that go away
+right into the sky. Pixie would like to go out in a ship with a big
+knife, and cut away all those dull old clouds that hide the blue sky."
+
+It was nearly dinner-time when the sailing-boat returned. All were in
+high spirits, laughing at me for having missed such fun.
+
+But when we got back to our lodgings, Fräulein was very angry, and kept
+Honey and Taters indoors for the rest of the afternoon.
+
+"Oh, we're a bad lot!" said Pat, listening to Fräulein's scolding
+with the greatest equanimity. "But you're going to have one saint
+amongst your pupils now, who will comfort and cheer your heart! Old
+Li's wicked days are over! Don't you see the difference in her face?
+A kind of what-a-good-girl-am-I smirk in the corner of her mouth; a
+what-a-wicked-set-I-live-amongst twist one side of her nose; and a
+oh-how-frivolous-is-earth roll in the whites of her eyes!"
+
+I got up and inspected myself in the mirror over the fireplace.
+
+"I wish I could see a change," I said; "it's the one thing that doesn't
+look religious about me; but Miss Moffat's face isn't a religious
+one—that's my comfort!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+Working
+
+[Illustration] I HAD some ups and downs after this, but I was quickly
+corrected if I made a slip; the others seemed to keep a lynx-eyed watch
+on every word and movement, and if it had not been for Miss Moffat's
+letter, I really think I should have got thoroughly disheartened. She
+said in it,—
+
+   "Don't think you won't tumble, my dear; young feet are very uncertain.
+But when you've fallen, let the Lord pick you up again; He won't lose
+patience with you."
+
+Some days were records of failure on failure; but I was beginning to
+find prayer a great comfort, and, to my great delight, I was feeling a
+warm love filling my heart for the One who had done, and was doing, so
+much for me.
+
+"It's a great comfort, Honey," I said one morning, as we were dressing
+in our bedroom, "that fresh days keep coming. How dreadful if we had
+one long eternal day with no break!"
+
+"Why?" she asked.
+
+"Because it gives one a fresh start. Now, yesterday, you know how I
+went on; I lost my temper with Taters, was rude to Fräulein, and ended
+by being sent off to bed an hour earlier for having that row with Pat,
+and smashing our landlady's hideous lamp in the hall! Well, to-day I'm
+starting again, quite fresh and jolly!"
+
+"You're an awfully queer Christian," said Honey. "I don't believe
+you're a proper one."
+
+"So you always say; but I can't be perfect all at once—Miss Moffat says
+I can't. Do you think I am getting on a little bit?"
+
+I added this rather pleadingly, and Honey responded warmly, "You're
+a brick! The boys say so, though they do tease you so. Pat said
+yesterday he would never have given you credit for so much pluck and
+perseverance. I'm sure you're as happy as any of us, and not a bit
+priggish, so far."
+
+"Then," said I, a little shyly, "I wish you'd try it too, Honey. I've
+been reading in my Bible to-day about the disciples following Jesus,
+and the one who went to the other and said, 'Come and see.' I wish you
+would 'come and see,' Honey!"
+
+[Illustration: HONEY WAS FASTENING HER COLLAR.]
+
+Honey didn't answer. She was fastening her collar, which didn't seem to
+meet without a great deal of tugging, and her face grew red.
+
+"I'll wait and see how you go on first," she said. "I've thought a lot
+lately, and if you can be religious, I don't see why I couldn't; but I
+shan't do anything yet."
+
+I felt very pleased at this, and from that time asked God in my prayers
+to make Honey decide to serve Him. She was always much more gentle and
+thoughtful than I was; and I often told her she would find it much
+easier than I did.
+
+The time at the seaside went much quicker than it did at home. We
+were out nearly all day long, and we explored the country for miles
+round. Fräulein was the only one who felt dull; she loved the town
+with all the shops and people; and then, too, she was always having
+the disagreeable duty of having to act as peacemaker between us and
+our landlady, who vowed she had never before had such a noisy set of
+lodgers. The boys and she were at daggers drawn, and I really think she
+would have liked to turn us out, if it had not been the empty time of
+year.
+
+On Sunday morning we heard a sermon that made a great impression
+on me. We went to a little country church, and I liked the simple
+old-fashioned service there. The text we had was:
+
+   "'As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to
+another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.'"
+
+The vicar said a lot about Christians being so lazy and careless as
+they were, and not working for God; and he showed us that God would
+have no idle stewards on His property. It made me feel very ashamed of
+myself, when I remembered that for nearly four weeks I had known about
+and received this gift from God, and yet I had never tried to pass the
+good news on to any one. And when I came home I determined that I would
+try harder than ever to get Honey to join me; and after I had got her,
+I would try for Thunder.
+
+But, beyond promising to read a few verses from the Bible with me every
+morning, Honey still resisted my persuasion.
+
+"There's plenty of time, Li. I don't feel my sins a burden, as you did,
+and I'm getting rather tired of your preaches. Leave me alone. I mean
+to be religious some day, but not yet."
+
+One morning Thunder and I had been for a long ramble along the shore,
+when, coming back, we saw a great commotion on the beach. We found
+Fräulein jabbering away in excited German to several fishermen, and
+nurse rushing backwards and forwards looking quite demented, whilst Pat
+and the others were talking at the top of their voices, and all were
+looking anxious and scared.
+
+We were soon told what had happened; Pixie was lost, and the general
+fear was that he had drifted out to sea in a boat.
+
+Honey was the last one with him; she was lying in a boat tied up on the
+beach reading a book, when he came and joined her. Now, when Honey read
+a story-book she always got so engrossed in it that she never noticed
+anything going on about her. Pixie played about, talking to himself,
+and she remembers seeing him twisting and untwisting the rope, and
+saying something about wanting to sail away to the sky, but she did not
+take much notice of it at the time. She left him soon after, for a few
+minutes, whilst she went to exchange her book with one that Taters had,
+and when she came back no Pixie was to be seen. She was not alarmed,
+for she concluded nurse had come to fetch him indoors, and it was only
+just before we came up that they discovered that Pixie was missing.
+
+[Illustration: WE FOUND FRÄULEIN JABBERING AWAY IN EXCITED GERMAN
+ TO SEVERAL FISHERMEN.]
+
+"And not only is he gone," said Honey tearfully, turning to me, "but
+the boat is missing! He must have undone the rope, and the tide has
+come in, and he must have drifted out to sea!"
+
+I looked anxiously out on the ocean. It was a calm day, and a few
+fishing-smacks were going out to sea, but there was no sign of a boat
+anywhere.
+
+"We must do something," said Pat, with energy, "and the sooner we set
+to work the better. We shall not be likely to find him after dark. If
+he has drifted out to sea, we must follow."
+
+And in an incredibly short time, he and Doodle-doo, Thunder and a
+stalwart boatman, were rowing out in the direction they thought the
+boat might have gone.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+Praying
+
+I DON'T think I ever remember a more miserable day than it was after
+Pixie was missing. Honey was inconsolable; the boys returned late at
+night, tired out, and thoroughly disheartened at their unsuccessful
+search; Fräulein and nurse were dissolved in tears, and both seemed
+perfectly helpless to make any suggestions.
+
+"He may have been picked up by some steamer or fishing-smack," I said,
+trying to speak hopefully.
+
+"I know he is drowned!" wailed Honey.
+
+"And it will be your doing!" said Pat severely. "You left a baby in an
+open boat, with the tide coming in around him; and when you found he
+had disappeared you never troubled yourself, or told any one for a full
+hour after!"
+
+Honey was too miserable to defend herself. Pixie was the darling of us
+all, and the boys were too alarmed to show any mercy. I tried to cheer
+her up, and then was assailed with—
+
+"Oh, do shut up with your 'hopes' and 'perhaps,' Li! Your grins are as
+bad as Honey's snivels. I suppose you think a saint ought to show a
+stony front at a time like this!"
+
+[Illustration: "HERE I IS, AND A BIG FISH."]
+
+"I'm not going to imagine the worst, to please you," I said stoutly;
+"for I've been praying for Pixie ever since he was missing, and I
+believe God will send him back to us again."
+
+"Cant!" muttered Doodle-doo; but Honey whispered—
+
+"If God answers your prayer, Li, I'll become a Christian, like you."
+
+And then, about half-past ten, when Fräulein was urging us to go to
+bed, and Pat had just returned from visiting the coastguard station on
+the cliff, we heard a knock at the door, and a rush of small feet along
+the passage.
+
+"Hear I is, and a big fish for my supper! And Pixie saw a lot of fish
+caught in a net!" He marched in amongst us, his hat on the back of
+his head, hugging a slippery fish in his arms, which he deposited in
+triumph on Fräulein's lap. A fisherman followed him in, and explained
+that he had found him in the boat drifting out to sea, as we had
+feared, and had taken him on board his smack.
+
+"The coolest little chap I h'ever set eyes on! Said he was going to
+touch the sky, and warn't half pleased at havin' to come back without
+a-doin' it."
+
+Pixie could not understand the reason for such hugs and embraces as he
+received, and no one had the heart to scold him, until nurse said—
+
+"And don't you think it was very naughty to go off in a boat like that,
+and give us all such a fright?"
+
+Pixie looked round on us serenely.
+
+"The boat ran away hisself. Pixie only sat quite still and bumped up
+and down."
+
+"Weren't you frightened when you got out to sea?" asked Taters.
+
+He shook his curly head. "O' course I wasn't. When the boat jumped up
+and down very high, I asked Jesus to come in and sit by me; and I fink
+he did. And I asked Jesus to take me frough the sky into heaven; but
+this man broughted me back before I got there. And Pixie is very tired,
+and he'll go to bed, and have the fish for his breakfus!"
+
+Nurse carried him off, and we all followed his example; but before we
+got into bed, I said to Honey—
+
+"Don't you feel very thankful Pixie is safe?"
+
+"I should think I did! It's like a mountain's weight off me!"
+
+"Well, then, aren't you going to do what you said!"
+
+Honey looked doubtfully at me. "Yes, I really will, but not to-night;
+I'm too tired."
+
+I lost patience with her. "You put off and off; and you'll never do
+it! I hate such shilly-shallying! Why can't you make up your mind one
+way or the other? Say downright you don't mean to change, instead of
+pretending you want to, and never doing it! I'm sick of your saying
+that 'by-and-by' you'll do it! If you don't take care, you'll put it
+off till too late, and then where will you be? You're as weak as water!"
+
+"Thank you!" said Honey placidly, though I could tell by her face she
+was angry. "And you're a hypocrite if your temper can flare up over
+nothing so!"
+
+I dashed into bed, and worked off my indignation under the bedclothes.
+
+A quarter of an hour later, thoroughly ashamed of myself, I sprang up
+and went over to Honey's bed.
+
+"I'm awfully sorry," I said penitently; "do forgive me! But you don't
+know how I long for you to be as happy as I am; and I'm so afraid you
+will never do it unless you make a start now. God has been so good in
+preserving Pixie's life."
+
+Honey was not demonstrative—none of us were—but she gave my arm a
+squeeze.
+
+"All right, Li! I don't really think you a hypocrite, but don't give me
+up yet. I really will start soon, but not to-night; and I have thanked
+God for sending Pixie back—I really have."
+
+I crept back into bed a little comforted, and then I determined that
+I would pray three or four times every day that Honey and Thunder
+might become true Christians. "If God can answer one prayer, He will
+another," I argued; "and I expect He would much rather have them
+Christians than save Pixie from drowning; for I should think He would
+be glad to have such a darling in heaven!"
+
+And so I prayed, and waited, and wondered why God did not answer my
+prayer sooner; for both Honey and Thunder seemed, in my eyes, to be as
+far off as ever.
+
+"A letter from your mother!" said Fräulein one morning. "And we home
+shall go at once. The workmen have papered and washed the house, and
+your father and mother are also returning quickly."
+
+I seized hold of Doodle-doo and spun him round and round the table in
+delight—
+
+"Hurray! We've been here long enough. When shall we go? To-day?"
+
+"I'll tell old Skim-milk, and see her face when she hears the news!"
+
+And Doodle-doo rushed from the room to break the tidings to our
+landlady, whom we had nicknamed "Skim-milk" from the poverty of that
+article when brought to our table.
+
+[Illustration: "THE HOUSE OF THE FATTEST OLD FURY THAT EVER LIVED
+ ON THE BEST TITBITS OF HER LODGERS!"]
+
+He returned chuckling.
+
+"What did she say?" we demanded.
+
+"She tossed up the tip of her nose. 'A blessed thing for me, afore my
+carpets get wored to rags, and my paint scratched off, and my house
+gets the name in the Terrace of containin' the vulgarest, noisiest,
+impertinentest set of children, big enough to know better!'"
+
+"And what did you say?"
+
+"I was very solemn. 'Do you know what name your house has got? The
+house of the fattest old fury that ever lived on the best titbits
+of her lodgers, and pried into their pockets and drawers for odd
+halfpence!' Then she looked round for a broomstick, and I walked off!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+Reaping
+
+WE were glad to get home. I think we were getting tired of our long
+holidays, and were not sorry when the day was fixed for the boys to go
+back to school after the Easter holidays.
+
+And we all enjoyed having father and mother back again. Mother was a
+great invalid, but she was always ready to help and listen to any of
+us, if we went to her with our troubles; and father spoilt us all—so
+Fräulein and nurse said. He was always ready to take us sightseeing
+about London, and we were never tired of accompanying him.
+
+The evening before the boys went back to school we were having a small
+farewell gathering. We always had them every quarter, and cook used to
+make us a huge iced cake with "farewell" in pink letters all round it,
+which we much appreciated.
+
+Miss Moffat was with us, and so was Uncle Bob, and we spent the evening
+in games and merriment. It was during some dumb charades, with which we
+were winding up, that Thunder and I were alone for a few minutes. I had
+been longing to say something to him before he went back to school, and
+now this seemed the opportunity.
+
+"You'll write to me, won't you, Thun?"
+
+"Don't I always?"
+
+"And, Thun, will you try what I have tried?"
+
+Thunder looked at me for a moment without speaking, then he said
+gruffly—
+
+"I have."
+
+"Oh, when? How splendid!"
+
+"A week or two ago."
+
+"And have you really started? Oh, Thunder, you might have told me!"
+
+"I meant to; but you know how hard it is to talk. I've been watching
+you, and I felt I was all wrong. I think I'm on the right track now,
+only it's the life at school I dread. You might, you know, pray for me,
+Li, when I'm gone."
+
+No more would he say, and I was so overcome that tears crowded to my
+eyes. It seemed too good to be true, and yet it was only the answer
+to my prayers. I knew Thunder was too thoughtful and thorough to be
+anything but real. He always had held on doggedly to anything that he
+had taken up, and, as Miss Moffat would say, he would have unseen power
+to help him along; so I had not much fear for his future.
+
+[Illustration: "OH, WHEN? HOW SPLENDID!"]
+
+"Why, Mary, you're sunshine itself!" said Miss Moffat to me later that
+evening. "What makes you so radiant?"
+
+I gave her a good squeeze. "Thunder," I said.
+
+She understood, for she raised her eyebrows, and then nodded and smiled.
+
+Just before she left us, when I was putting on her cloak in the hall, I
+whispered—
+
+"Isn't it lovely? But I wish it was Honey."
+
+Miss Moffat smiled. "Pray and work for her, dear child."
+
+The boys went. We girls settled down to a very quiet routine of lessons
+with Fräulein, and felt dull after our long time of idleness and
+dissipation. And so the spring wore on and summer came, and still Honey
+wavered and said "By-and-by" when I talked to her.
+
+One lovely summer's afternoon we were gathering round the schoolroom
+table with black looks. It had been a trying day; Fräulein had a
+headache, and was unusually fidgety and cross, and the heat and
+confinement had made us careless and idle. After dinner Fräulein went
+to rest in her room, leaving us each so many French exercises to write
+out as impositions, and forbidding us to leave the schoolroom till we
+had finished them.
+
+"It's a beastly shame!" cried Taters, stamping her foot in anger when
+Fräulein had departed. "And I'm not going to do mine. Look!"
+
+And taking up her exercise-book, naughty Taters deliberately tore it to
+pieces and scattered the fragments out of the open window.
+
+We were rather aghast at this proceeding, for Fräulein was not a person
+to be trifled with.
+
+"You're a little silly," Honey said; "it will only be worse for you in
+the end."
+
+"It's too bad of Fräulein," I grumbled. "If I was a governess with a
+headache, I would give fewer lessons to my pupils, not more."
+
+"Even a saint can grumble!" said Taters, mockingly, and then she ran
+out of the room.
+
+We heard her whistling on the staircase, and then suddenly there was an
+awful crash, a piercing shriek, and dead silence.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Honey and I rushed to the door, and I shall never forget the moment
+when, looking over the balusters, we saw Taters—a confused heap in the
+hall below. She had been sliding on the rails, a forbidden pastime, and
+in some way or other had overbalanced herself.
+
+Mother rushed from her room, and was the first to lift her up; the
+servants and Fräulein crowded round, and then nurse came up and drew us
+into the nursery.
+
+Honey was as white as death, and shaking like a leaf. "She isn't dead,
+nurse! Oh, she can't be dead!"
+
+"Pray God she mayn't be!" responded nurse. And she left us with Pixie,
+while she went to give her help.
+
+Our doctor came almost immediately, and there were hushed voices and
+footsteps all the evening. We were told when we went to bed that Taters
+was alive, but she had broken an arm, and concussion of the brain was
+feared.
+
+
+For weeks she lay between life and death. Honey and I were too
+miserable for words. And I kept praying in my heart, "O God, heal her;
+let her live—save her!"
+
+But at last she began to recover, and the first day that we heard the
+good news from nurse, "The doctor says she'll do nicely now," Honey
+turned to me with earnest resolve in her face—
+
+"Li, I've been fighting against God and holding back all this time. Now
+I will give myself up to Him. I want to be a Christian like you. I have
+been miserable about myself ever since you altered so. Tell me what to
+do."
+
+I tried to tell her, but somehow it was not very easy until I got hold
+of my Bible, and then that made it clear. I made her look at "Him that
+cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."
+
+And then she said, "That will do, Li," and left the room.
+
+I did not go near her, but put up a tiny prayer to God that He would
+take her as I felt He had taken me, and again I thanked Him for
+answered prayer.
+
+It was some days before Honey felt sure of herself, but at last she
+seemed to get the peace of mind she was wanting.
+
+"It is so good of God to have been so patient with me," she said. "I
+believe if Taters had not been nearly killed, I should never have made
+up my mind; but I never felt before how quickly we could die. Oh, Li,
+suppose Taters had been killed on the spot!"
+
+I shuddered. "God has saved her," I said, "and now we must pray for
+her. I should like her to start too. Wouldn't it be splendid if we
+three were all of the same mind before the boys came back from their
+holidays?"
+
+Taters was much impressed during her illness, but she disappointed us
+when she was well again, for she seemed more thoughtless than ever.
+
+Miss Moffat comforted me when I talked it over with her, by saying,
+"God has been good in letting you reap two of your family, my child. Go
+on praying and working, and remember, with you young people, that the
+life tells more than the words."
+
+"And I suppose it teaches us to be patient and persevering in prayer!"
+
+Miss Moffat nodded and smiled. "'Let us not be weary in well doing: for
+in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.'"
+
+
+
+                            THE END
+
+
+
+                          PRINTED BY
+                 HAZELL, WATSON, AND VINEY, LD.
+                     LONDON AND AYLESBURY.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75734 ***
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+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8">
+    <title>
+      A Thoughtless Seven, by Amy Le Feuvre │ Project Gutenberg
+    </title>
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+</head>
+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75734 ***</div>
+
+<p>Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image001" style="max-width: 33.8125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image001.jpg" alt="image001">
+</figure>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image002" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image002.jpg" alt="image002">
+</figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>THE BOYS AND SHE WERE AT DAGGERS DRAWN.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<h1>A THOUGHTLESS SEVEN</h1>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+BY<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t1">
+AMY LE FEUVRE<br>
+<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t4">
+AUTHOR OF "PROBABLE SONS," "TEDDY'S BUTTON," "ODD,"<br>
+"ERIC'S GOOD NEWS," "A PUZZLING PAIR," ETC.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br><br></p>
+
+<p class="t4">
+<em>WITH TWENTY-SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS.</em><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br><br></p>
+
+<p class="t4">
+LONDON<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t4">
+4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E.C.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<pre>
+                              BY THE SAME AUTHOR
+
+
+            A Bit of Rough Road.        |   Miss Lavender's Boy, and
+            Heather's Mistress.         |     Other Sketches.
+            The Mender.                 |   Me and Nobbles.
+            Odd made Even. A sequel     |   Odd.
+              to "Odd."                 |   A Puzzling Pair.
+            The Carved Cupboard.        |   His Little Daughter.
+            On the Edge of a Moor.      |   Bulbs and Blossoms.
+            Dwell Deep; or, Hilda       |   Bunny's Friends.
+              Thorn's Life Story.       |   Eric's Good News.
+            Jill's Red Bag.             |   Probable Sons.
+            Legend Led.                 |   Teddy's Button.
+            A Little Maid.              |
+
+
+                    LONDON: THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
+</pre>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<p class="t3b">
+CONTENTS<br>
+<br>
+————<br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>CHAP.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p><a href="#Chapter_1">I. THOUGHTLESS</a></p>
+
+<p><a href="#Chapter_2">II. THINKING</a></p>
+
+<p><a href="#Chapter_3">III. STARTING</a></p>
+
+<p><a href="#Chapter_4">IV. TELLING</a></p>
+
+<p><a href="#Chapter_5">V. GROWING</a></p>
+
+<p><a href="#Chapter_6">VI. WORKING</a></p>
+
+<p><a href="#Chapter_7">VII. PRAYING</a></p>
+
+<p><a href="#Chapter_8">VIII. REAPING</a></p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<p class="t2">
+<b>A THOUGHTLESS SEVEN</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image003" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image003.jpg" alt="image003">
+</figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_1">CHAPTER I</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>Thoughtless</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"SHE'S a good old soul in her way; but we are not infants in the
+nursery, and will manage a jolly sight better without her."</p>
+
+<p>"And we'll have a good fling while we are about it, I say. For she said
+she would be back in a week."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall do my best to keep order at mealtimes, of course; but I shan't
+be hard on you the rest of the day. Now, Doodle-doo, leave that cushion
+alone. Remember what the last one did."</p>
+
+<p>It was Sunday afternoon, and we were all enjoying ourselves in the
+schoolroom upstairs. Dinner was over; there was a deluge of rain coming
+down; and the blazing fire and a bag of chestnuts were keeping us busy.
+It is needless to say that we were not sitting up in chairs in the
+orthodox fashion. Pat, the eldest of us, in his eighteenth year, was
+reposing full length on our shabby old couch; Taters was astride on
+one end of it; Honey was seated on the coal-scuttle, her feet inside
+the fender; and Thunder and I were lying flat on the hearthrug; whilst
+Doodle-doo was changing his position every minute, and trying to make
+every one else do the same.</p>
+
+<p>Lest our names should be thought queer ones, I should explain that
+they were of our own coining; our baptismal ones were too respectable
+to find favour in our eyes. I went by the brief synonym of "Li," or
+"Lightning," as Thunder and I invariably did things together; and I
+certainly outdid them all in swiftness of thought and action.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image004" style="max-width: 30.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image004.jpg" alt="image004"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>I BROUGHT DOWN THE TABLECLOTH TO THE GROUND.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>We had just recovered from scarlet fever; our parents were abroad,
+and our good old German governess had suddenly been summoned home to
+a dying mother. Nurse was with us, of course; but Pixie, a delicate
+little fellow of six, who had fared the worst of us all in the fever,
+took up much of her time and attention, and we elder ones had long ago
+escaped and defiee her rule.</p>
+
+<p>"Throw us another nut," Pat demanded.</p>
+
+<p>I threw, aiming with such exact precision at his nose, that with a yell
+he sprang up and gave chase to me round the table. Round and round we
+spun, until I brought down the table-cloth to the ground, and with it a
+china flower-pot of mignonette.</p>
+
+<p>That sobered us, and we took up our former position again, Honey
+remarking, "I'm sure we ought to be better employed on Sunday afternoon
+than making such a row. Why don't some of you get a book to read?"</p>
+
+<p>"I've read all the Sunday books again and again," I said with a sigh,
+for books were my delight.</p>
+
+<p>"No one can keep pace with Li," observed Taters thoughtfully, as she
+left her seat to put another chestnut on the bars; "why don't you start
+reading the Bible? That would take you a few Sundays to get through."</p>
+
+<p>I stared at her. "The Bible! Why, no one reads that for the sake of
+reading."</p>
+
+<p>"What's the good of it, then?" demanded Taters, who was nothing if she
+was not argumentative.</p>
+
+<p>"To preach from, of course," put in Doodle-doo; "and if I had the
+chance, I wouldn't give such rotten sermons out of it as we heard this
+morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, come on; give us a sermon, if you are so good at it. We'll give
+you a chance, and a text too. Find him one, Li; there's a Bible on the
+bookshelf."</p>
+
+<p>I found the Bible that Pat indicated, opened it in a hurry, and called
+out the first words that met my eye—"'One thing thou lackest.'"</p>
+
+<p>Honey looked up gravely and sweetly. "You're not to make fun,
+Doodle-doo," she said.</p>
+
+<p>Doodle-doo held himself erect, and ruffled his cock's-comb, as we
+called it, in the importance of his position.</p>
+
+<p>"Ahem!" he began. "My sermon will be brief, but to the point. Pat, one
+thing thou lackest—'tis control of thy beastly temper. Honey, one thing
+thou lackest—'tis female tidiness. Taters, one thing thou lackest—'tis
+the knowledge that thou art an ignoramus. Thunder, one thing thou
+lackest—'tis a light and contented spirit. Lightning, one thing thou
+lackest—'tis patient perseverance."</p>
+
+<p>"And, Doodle-doo, one thing thou lackest," I put in hastily—"'tis the
+art of keeping thy cackling voice still."</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image005" style="max-width: 30.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image005.jpg" alt="image005">
+</figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"Well, young people, what is the discussion?"</p>
+
+<p>We turned round, and found that Miss Moffat from next door had quietly
+opened the door and come in amongst us. She was a little old maid
+whom we all loved. All through our illness she had been in and out,
+changing her dress most carefully each time to avoid spreading the
+infection. Books and fruit had been plentifully supplied, and we were
+not surprised to see her hands full of books and papers now.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image006" style="max-width: 30.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image006.jpg" alt="image006">
+</figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"A little Sunday reading, my dears. I thought you might be in want of
+some. Are you telling each other of your faults, may I ask?"</p>
+
+<p>"Doodle-doo is trying to preach," Tater said, her snub nose well in the
+air; "but his crows, like those of his namesake, are about nothing at
+all."</p>
+
+<p>"And what is the subject?"</p>
+
+<p>"'One thing thou lackest,' was the text I gave him," I said glibly.
+"Don't look so shocked, Miss Moffat; we weren't making fun of it."</p>
+
+<p>"It is a solemn verse to take up so lightly," said our friend gravely.
+"Do you know the occasion of our Lord's saying those words?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Don't preach to us, there's a good soul;" and Pat threw up his
+long arms and stretched himself with a terrific yawn.</p>
+
+<p>"I am on my way to read to a blind woman," said Miss Moffitt briskly;
+"there are your books."</p>
+
+<p>Then looking over her spectacles at us in her quaint, sweet way, she
+said—</p>
+
+<p>"There is 'one thing lacking' with each one of you boys and girls. Try
+and find it out for yourselves, and let me know when you succeed in
+getting it. I should not like to see any of you one day 'weighed in the
+balances and found wanting.'"</p>
+
+<p>And then she left us.</p>
+
+<p>There was silence for a few minutes; we were busy distributing the
+literature which had been brought us.</p>
+
+<p>Then Thunder observed, knitting his black brows into a heavier frown
+than usual—</p>
+
+<p>"I shouldn't have thought little Moffat was a religious person; but you
+can never see through a woman—they're always up to artful dodges."</p>
+
+<p>"She isn't religious," Doodle-doo said; "she only wanted to add force
+to my little preach."</p>
+
+<p>"Shut up," said Pat, giving a kick at him as he passed the sofa; "my
+'beastly temper' won't stand a word more from you."</p>
+
+<p>"She's not a goody person, nor a prig," argued Taters, "so she can't be
+religious; and her face is as round and ruddy as an apple."</p>
+
+<p>"What is a religious person?" I asked. "I don't mean a hypocrite, but a
+real true one. What do they believe that we don't believe? Why should
+it be such an awfully canty thing to be good?"</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to try it, Li?"</p>
+
+<p>"I sometimes think," said Honey meditatively, as she deliberately poked
+her slippered foot into the red-hot embers and stirred them into a
+blaze, "that after all 'we' may be the hypocrites. What did we kneel
+down and pray for in church this morning?—'Grant that we may hereafter
+live a godly, righteous, and sober life.' We haven't the smallest
+intention of doing it."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't talk rot!" was Pat's response to this.</p>
+
+<p>And, turning to our books, we dropped the subject.</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_2">CHAPTER II</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>Thinking</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<div class="container">
+<figure id="image007">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image007.jpg" alt="image007">
+</figure> 
+<p>
+<br>
+<br>
+"WHAT'S the row with old Li?"<br>
+<br>
+"Give her a pinch, Thunder; she's half asleep."<br>
+<br>
+"She's planning some fiendish trick, I bet."<br>
+<br>
+We were at breakfast, and Honey, who was pouring out the coffee, looked
+across at me curiously after these remarks.<br>
+<br>
+"She was talking in her sleep last night, and jumping about like a
+dancing doll; I expect the chestnuts gave her indigestion."</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Rubbish!" I said quickly. "If you had had the horrible dreams I had,
+you wouldn't feel very spry in the morning. It was awful; I didn't
+sleep a wink."</p>
+
+<p>"Li is a wonder," said Pat admiringly; "she dreams wide awake, and eats
+her breakfast fast asleep."</p>
+
+<p>I was about to retort angrily, when the door opened, and nurse appeared
+with Pixie. The seven years between him and Taters made him appear a
+perfect baby to us, and we all petted him accordingly. He was a pale,
+fragile little fellow, with a quaintness and courage all his own; but
+in spite of his old-fashioned talk, he was a thorough child.</p>
+
+<p>"I want one of you young ladies to take Master Lionel out this morning;
+it's my busy day," announced nurse.</p>
+
+<p>"All right; I'll take him," said I.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't walk him off his legs, and bring him in before twelve o'clock."</p>
+
+<p>Saying which, nurse departed; and we began to make our plans for the
+day. Pat and Doodle-doo were going out on their bicycles, Taters and
+Honey out shopping, and, after a little persuasion, Thunder said he
+would come to the common with Pixie and me. Our house was in a London
+suburb; but the common stretched away to green fields and lanes, and
+was a favourite resort of ours.</p>
+
+<p>Pixie, as usual, was full of talk, and beguiled the way by his
+extraordinary questions and ideas.</p>
+
+<p>It was a bright sunny morning, and wonderfully mild for the time of
+year; so when we arrived at the common, Thunder and I rested on one of
+the seats, whilst Pixie played about.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder when Pater will write and suggest a change of air for us!"
+grumbled Thunder. "We ought to go off to the sea or somewhere! I don't
+think I shall ever be the same again as I was before that rotten fever!
+I'm quite fagged out now with this bit of a walk!"</p>
+
+<p>"Fancy if one of us had died!" I said lugubriously; for Thunder's
+remarks were never cheering, and I did not feel in a mood to comfort
+him. "You or I might have. If we had, I wonder what we should have been
+doing now?"</p>
+
+<p>Thunder's black brows scowled. "You needn't have such dismal fancies!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, but," I persisted, "I half think I may be going to die; for
+I had such awful dreams last night! I can't help feeling they were
+warnings."</p>
+
+<p>"What were they like?"</p>
+
+<p>"I kept feeling myself in a pair of scales, and I couldn't make myself
+heavy enough to keep down—I would swing up in the air! I clutched hold
+of the sides of the scale, and pressed down with my whole weight, but
+it was no good, and all the time a voice kept repeating, like the tick
+of a clock, 'Weighed in the balances and found wanting! One thing thou
+lackest!' I woke up in an awful fright, and couldn't get to sleep for
+ages, and when I did, I dreamt again, that I was running for my life
+away from Miss Moffat, who, brandishing a red-hot poker close to my
+eyes, was shrieking out, 'One thing thou lackest!'"</p>
+
+<p>Thunder laughed.</p>
+
+<p>I added seriously, "We're a wicked lot, and I'm really and truly going
+to find out the one thing lacking with me. I won't stand another night
+like last night. What is it, Pixie?"</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image008" style="max-width: 30.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image008.jpg" alt="image008"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>"DID HE SEE ME JUST NOW WHEN I WAS PLAYING?"</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>He was standing before us with troubled eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Is God looking out of the sky this morning?"</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose so," I said; "Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Did He see me just now, when I was playing at killing a snake?"</p>
+
+<p>"What have you been doing?" I asked severely.</p>
+
+<p>"I've cut one of God's dear little worms into two pieces! Will He be
+angry?"</p>
+
+<p>"Go and stick them together again!" laughed Thunder.</p>
+
+<p>But tears were very near the surface with Pixie, and clasping his
+hands, he went on—</p>
+
+<p>"I was going to be 'such' a good boy to-day, and I didn't really mean
+to kill the little worm with my stick—it was too soft! Will God forgive
+me, do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course He will," I said impatiently; "you didn't mean to do it."
+Then, with a change of tone, I said, "Will you go to heaven if you die,
+Pixie?"</p>
+
+<p>He looked at me, then nodded. "Jesus loves Pixie, and Pixie wants to go
+to Him in heaven very much sometimes!"</p>
+
+<p>He ran away to play, and I said with a sigh, "He has got what we
+haven't. I shouldn't go to heaven if I died; neither would you, old
+Thun! Fancy the difference between Pixie's conscience and ours, if he
+thinks cutting a worm in two an awful sin!"</p>
+
+<p>Thunder remained silent for a little; then he said—</p>
+
+<p>"Being religious won't suit you, Li; don't you try it! You could never
+keep up being a prig, if you started!"</p>
+
+<p>"Look here!" I said warmly. "I don't intend being a prig; but if I like
+to turn religious I shall, and no one shall stop me!"</p>
+
+<p>I jumped up from the seat, and started running races with Pixie, whilst
+Thunder whipped out a thrilling tale from his pocket, and sat on
+reading till it was time to go home. I laughed and talked my loudest
+for the rest of the day; but I was miserable. "One thing thou lackest,"
+rang in my ears. And at last, after our evening meal was over, I
+slipped away from all the noise and laughter in the schoolroom, and
+went down to the dining-room, where a bright fire was blazing. Then,
+taking hold of a Bible I found there, I drew up a chair to the fire,
+and commenced studying the story of the young man who lacked the one
+thing.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose," I said to myself, "that his fault was not following
+Christ; but it must be awfully difficult to lead a good life! I suppose
+if I was to start I should have to say prayers half an hour long, and
+be always reading the Bible, which is so dry. I should have to give up
+all fun, and story-books, and fighting with the boys; and then they'd
+all hate me, and vote me a prig! Oh, I couldn't do it! It would be as
+dull as ditch water! Yet I do want, oh, I do want to be sure of heaven!
+I know I'm not right; I know I'm awfully wicked. If only God would
+turn me suddenly into a saint without any trouble on my part! I'm sure
+some people get converted like that. Yet I don't want to be a regular
+goody-goody; I despise them so—they're always so full of cant. I don't
+know what I want. I should like to be right with God, and not be so
+afraid of Him! This young man went away grieved, it says; he couldn't
+do it. I suppose I shouldn't have to give up riches to follow Christ,
+because I haven't any to give up; but I should have to give up other
+things quite as bad."</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image009" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image009.jpg" alt="image009"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>THEN, WITH A WHOOP AND A RUSH, IN TUMBLED DOODLE-DOO AND</b><br>
+<b>TATERS! IN AN INSTANT I WAS ON MY FEET; STUFFING THE BIBLE</b><br>
+<b>UNDER THE CUSHION OF MY CHAIR.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>And so I meditated, and at last such an overwhelming sense of my own
+wickedness and shortcomings came over me that I dropped on my knees,
+and put up the first real prayer in life, though perhaps it may sound a
+queer one.</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"O God, I'll follow Christ, if You'll make it easy for me. I don't want
+to be turned into a goody person, but I do want to be right at the
+Judgment Day. I do want my sins forgiven, but don't let me have to give
+up all fun. And will You put me straight at once—to-night? I can't stop
+till to-morrow."<br>
+<br>
+</p>
+
+<p>Then I waited for something to happen—some wonderful feeling to come
+over me; but it didn't come.</p>
+
+<p>And then, with a whoop and a rush, in tumbled Doodle-doo and Taters!</p>
+
+<p>In an instant I was on my feet; stuffing the Bible under the cushion of
+my chair.</p>
+
+<p>"Aha! We've caught the truant! She looks quite guilty. Take hold of her
+legs, Taters, and I'll take her arms, and we'll find out what she's
+been doing!"</p>
+
+<p>But I was not so easily caught, and for the next ten minutes we had a
+breathless chase through the house, until nurse held me fast.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Mary, I'm ashamed of you! Nearly fifteen, and romping like a boy!
+Go to the schoolroom and be quiet. You've woke Master Lionel out of his
+first sleep, and now he'll be restless for an hour or so. How I wish
+Fräulein were here!"</p>
+
+<p>A wish poor nurse very often expressed!</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_3">CHAPTER III</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>Starting</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<div class="container">
+<figure id="image010">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image010.jpg" alt="image010">
+</figure> 
+<p>
+<br>
+<br>
+I LAY awake that night thinking.<br>
+<br>
+Honey and I shared the same room. She generally made me impatient
+by her leisurely movements, and I was often fast asleep long before
+she came to bed; but now I lay awake and listened to her heavy
+breathing—sleep would not come to me.<br>
+<br>
+Why had not God answered my prayer?<br>
+<br>
+I had been quite honest about it. How was it I felt just the same, and
+nothing had happened? And then again the refrain began in my ears, "One
+thing thou lackest. Weighed in the balances, and found wanting."</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"I do wish I had never found out that troublesome text! I suppose it is
+a judgment on me for treating it so lightly. I wonder what became of
+that young man; where is he now? I suppose he is either in heaven or
+hell this very minute; and if he is in hell, what would he give to have
+another chance—to have 'my' chance?"</p>
+
+<p>And then I could bear my thoughts no longer. Out of bed I crept; and,
+shivering, knelt in the darkness and cold.</p>
+
+<p>"O God, I'm afraid I wasn't in earnest. I'm in dead earnest now. I'll
+give up everything, and won't care what the others say, if only You
+will forgive and convert me. I'll give up all story-books if they're
+wicked, and will read nothing but the Bible. I'll follow Christ at all
+costs, however difficult and gloomy it will be. I 'must' be forgiven. I
+ask Thee now to save me, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."</p>
+
+<p>Again I laid my head down on my pillow, and this time was soon fast
+asleep, never waking till our maid came to call us the next morning.</p>
+
+<p>"You're rather silent, Li," said Honey, as she brushed out her golden
+hair. "Are you half asleep still?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; I'm very much awake," was my response. "I am having very serious
+thoughts. Honey, do you believe God answers prayer?"</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose so."</p>
+
+<p>"How do we know He does?"</p>
+
+<p>"By getting the answer, I should think. And, of course, the Bible says
+so."</p>
+
+<p>"Where?" And I rushed to a small table and took hold of my Bible at
+once.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image011" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image011.jpg" alt="image011"></figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," said Honey, eyeing me perplexedly. "Isn't there a verse
+somewhere, 'Ask, and it shall be given you'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, of course there is. The fact is, last night I asked God to—well,
+you know, convert me—make me a proper Christian, and I want to know if
+He has done it. I don't feel any different this morning. Do I look any
+different? Do you think He has done it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Li, you aren't making fun, are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Fun! I'm in downright sober earnest! I'm going to follow Christ. I
+promised last night, so no more larks for me. I shall be reading my
+Bible most of the day—at least, do you think an hour a day would be
+enough to begin with?" My tone was rather pitiful, for the prospect
+seemed dreary.</p>
+
+<p>But Honey did not answer; she looked quite dazed.</p>
+
+<p>"If I only knew for certain God had answered me, I wouldn't mind," I
+went on; "but of course I have promised to live as a Christian, and
+I must try. You may have my skates, Honey; if we do get a frost this
+winter, I shall never skate again. I wonder if I ought to go to church
+every day?"</p>
+
+<p>"You sound as if you're going to die," observed Honey.</p>
+
+<p>"If I was sure it was all right with me, I should like to. I think
+directly people are ready for heaven they ought to go there. It is too
+tantalizing to be obliged to stay down here seeing other people having
+good times, and being out of them oneself. I don't know how I shall do
+it, but I'm going to have a try."</p>
+
+<p>Before we left our room in the morning, we always went through the form
+of kneeling by our bed for a minute. To-day I felt it was no longer a
+form; again I implored for pardon, and asked to be kept straight in the
+narrow path that led to life; and then we went down to breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>"If I were you, Li," said Honey on the staircase, "I wouldn't say
+anything to the boys about your feelings—not until you are more sure of
+yourself. I won't breathe a word."</p>
+
+<p>"I never can keep anything secret long," I said dubiously; "but I'll
+have a try."</p>
+
+<p>The boys did not trouble me; they were full of an expedition they had
+planned, and this was for all of us to go and see a bachelor uncle of
+ours who lived about twelve miles away.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll take him by surprise," said Pat; "I'll hire a trap from the
+livery stables round the corner, and drive you girls; and Doodle-doo
+and Thunder can come on their bikes. We shall have to start in about an
+hour. He is sure to stand us a jolly lunch, and it will be no end of a
+spree."</p>
+
+<p>"And who'll pay for the trap?" asked Taters.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'll stand that! I've been saving lately, and you girls must pay
+me some of it back when you get your next pocket-money."</p>
+
+<p>It sounded delightful, but I wondered if I ought to go. However, as
+nurse seemed to agree to it, only telling Pat to be sure to choose a
+quiet horse, I thought I could safely venture.</p>
+
+<p>"And I will have a good read of my Bible when I come home, and say a
+few hymns to myself on the way. That will keep me in a religious frame
+of mind."</p>
+
+<p>With these resolves, I set off with the others, as lighthearted as
+any. Pat was a good driver. When father was at home, he was constantly
+driving round the country with him; and now, spinning along the high
+road with the fresh keen air blowing full in our faces, our spirits
+rose, and I talked more nonsense than any of them.</p>
+
+<p>As we drew near the house, Honey said, "Uncle Bob has never been near
+us since we were first taken ill. Suppose he should be afraid of the
+infection?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's just the fun of it," laughed Taters; "he won't be able to help
+himself, and I'll give him such a hug when I get near him!"</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image012" style="max-width: 30.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image012.jpg" alt="image012"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>"THAT'S JUST THE FUN OF IT," SAID TATERS.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"We're out of quarantine," said Pat, rather grandly, "and if the old
+chap shows the white feather, I'll soon bring him to reason."</p>
+
+<p>Alas! When we reached the house, the closed shutters told us that he
+was away.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind," said Honey; "Mrs. Sykes will give us lunch."</p>
+
+<p>But this the old housekeeper did not seem disposed to do. She came to
+the door in her rustling black silk, and eyed us in stern disapproval.</p>
+
+<p>"Your uncle is away in London for a month. We heard you were all ill of
+the scarlet fever. It seems a very unseasonable day for you to be out;
+I should think you had better get home as quickly as possible, for I
+believe there is a storm coming."</p>
+
+<p>"That we're not going to do before having something to eat," said Pat
+determinedly. "Get out, girls; and Sykes will get us some bread and
+cheese, if she has nothing else in the house."</p>
+
+<p>In we all trooped, to Mrs. Sykes's great disgust; but she had a meal
+prepared for us which we thoroughly enjoyed, and then we spent the rest
+of our time rambling over the house and grounds, until Pat said we must
+return.</p>
+
+<p>"Give our love to the old chap!" shouted out Doodle-doo, as we were
+starting off in style from the front door. "He'll be awfully put out
+when he knows he has missed us."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Sykes muttered something like "A merciful escape!" and closed the
+door sharply in our faces.</p>
+
+<p>But we knew her ways, and only laughed.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image013" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image013.jpg" alt="image013"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>"GIVE OUR LOVE TO THE OLD CHAP!" SHOUTED DOODLE-DOO,</b><br>
+<b>AS WE WERE STARTING OFF IN STYLE.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>We had hardly got a mile away from the house, when down came a torrent
+of rain, and a severe storm burst full upon us.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image014" style="max-width: 30.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image014.jpg" alt="image014"></figure>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_4">CHAPTER IV</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>Telling</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>NONE of us had umbrellas, and though we girls buttoned up our jackets
+and pulled the rugs well over our knees, we got soaked through. And
+then, as a vivid flash of lightning flashed upon us, followed by a
+deafening clap of thunder, our horse reared, then bolted.</p>
+
+<p>The trap swayed from side to side. Pat muttered between clenched teeth,
+"Sit still, and hold your tongues!"</p>
+
+<p>And still as death we sat, gripping hold of the back of the seat, and
+expecting every moment to be upset.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image015" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image015.jpg" alt="image015"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>OUR HORSE REARED, THEN BOLTED.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"Am I ready to die?" flashed through my mind; and again I sent up an
+agonizing cry,—</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"O God, forgive, and save me!"<br>
+<br>
+</p>
+
+<p>We dashed on; the hedges seemed to fly past us; but the road was a
+straight and even one. Gradually the horse's pace slackened, and at
+last, with a tremendous effort, Pat was able to pull up. Then we looked
+at each other. Honey was as white as a sheet; Pat was wiping the
+perspiration from his brow; and Taters was the only one who laughed,
+but her laugh was an hysterical one.</p>
+
+<p>"A near shave for us!" was Pat's comment.</p>
+
+<p>And not another word did he say till we reached home, for we were all
+considerably sobered by our adventure.</p>
+
+<p>I crept away to my room as soon as I could, and thanked God on my
+knees for having preserved us. I felt, if He had heard and answered
+one prayer, He would another; and I went to bed that night a little
+comforted.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>The next morning I ran in next door to ask Miss Moffat for a book she
+had promised to lend Honey. I found her writing letters in her snug
+little sitting-room; but she turned round at once and made me sit down
+by the fire and have a chat with her. Somehow or other I soon found
+myself telling her all that was in my heart. She had a way of getting
+everything out of us, and I could never be reticent with her.</p>
+
+<p>"And do you think you have now got the 'one thing lacking,' my dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. What do you say was the one thing lacking with that
+young man, Miss Moffat?"</p>
+
+<p>"He lacked union with Christ," Miss Moffat said softly. "He could not
+make up his mind to link his life on to our Lord's; and, believe me,
+Mary, you will never be able to live a happy Christian life unless you
+get in touch with your Saviour."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think a Christian life can be a happy one," I said gloomily;
+"it is life with all the enjoyment taken out of it. But I've promised
+to live it, and I can't go back from it."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Moffat looked at me with something like tears in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, child, child, what a wrong start you are making! You say you have
+asked God to forgive you and save you. How can He do it, when He has
+said no sinner shall come into His presence?"</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose," said I thoughtfully, "He will do it because Christ died
+for sinners—Christ died for me."</p>
+
+<p>As I said the words a strange sense of peace crept into my heart.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," Miss Moffat went on; "you have the right foundation. But if you
+have just been received into the fold, and have obtained forgiveness
+of sins, and the gift of eternal life—if you have been made an heir of
+glory—whom must you thank for it?"</p>
+
+<p>"The Lord Jesus Christ," I said slowly.</p>
+
+<p>"And doesn't your heart glow with the thought of all His love for you?
+Have you no word of thanks to Him? You talk as if you are to live a
+Christ-like life without Christ! The thing is impossible. Open your
+empty little heart to Him, and He will come in and flood your life with
+joy and gladness. A Christian life a gloomy one! Oh, how little, how
+very little, you know! Get linked on to Christ, my dear; get to know
+Him as your personal Friend, and you will find you love Him better
+every day you live—ah! And you'll get to understand a little of His
+mighty love for you!"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Moffat spoke enthusiastically. I could only stare at her, for her
+words then were above and beyond my comprehension.</p>
+
+<p>Then I sighed, though a spark of hope sprang up in my breast.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think God has answered my prayer?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Moffat turned over the leaves of her well-worn Bible.</p>
+
+<p>"'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our
+sins.' Faithful—for He never breaks His word; just—because Christ has
+suffered instead of us. What do you think, Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>I did not answer for a minute; then I said, "But I don't feel any
+different."</p>
+
+<p>"Let your feelings alone; rest on this verse. Run your finger along it
+every day, and say, 'God says this. I'll believe it, though I don't
+feel it.' If you keep on at that, the feeling will come. But your
+salvation does not depend on your feelings."</p>
+
+<p>I got up to go, and kissed our little friend enthusiastically.</p>
+
+<p>"You're a dear, Miss Moffat! You've comforted me a lot. And you don't
+think God wants to take away my pleasures if I'm a Christian?"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Moffat smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"He loves you, my child. He loves to see you happy. He will fill your
+life with blessing, if you are willing to let Him."</p>
+
+<p>I walked back to our house thinking. And then a few minutes after I
+burst into the schoolroom. The boys were cooking toffee; Taters was
+dressing our black cat in a paper frock and cap; and Honey was trying
+vainly to write a letter to mother. I flung Honey's book on the table.</p>
+
+<p>"I've something to tell you all!" I said.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image016" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image016.jpg" alt="image016"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>I TOOK UP THE SOFA CUSHIONS, AND FLUNG THEM</b><br>
+<b>WITH ALL MY FORCE AT THE BOYS' HEADS.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"Hulloo! Anything grand? Why, Li is quite excited! Out with it; your
+eyes are nearly starting out of your head!"</p>
+
+<p>I stood erect, and faced them all.</p>
+
+<p>"It's something very good for me. I'm a Christian."</p>
+
+<p>A shout of laughter from the boys.</p>
+
+<p>"Just found that out? What are we? Heathen?"</p>
+
+<p>I was not disconcerted.</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you I'm quite different to what I was a few days ago. I found
+out the answer to Miss Moffat's question, and I'm going to be really
+and truly religious."</p>
+
+<p>Pat tapped his forehead significantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor Li! She has been rather queer the last day or two, but I didn't
+think it would come to this!"</p>
+
+<p>"Li pious! If you lived to be a hundred, you couldn't be: so don't you
+come here trying to green us!"</p>
+
+<p>Exasperated by these jeers, I took up the sofa cushions—our favourite
+implements of warfare—and flung them with all my force at the boys'
+heads, exclaiming hotly—</p>
+
+<p>"I am! I don't care what you say, and how you laugh! I know myself
+better than you do, and if I choose to be 'pious,' as you call it, I
+shall!"</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image017" style="max-width: 30.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image017.jpg" alt="image017"></figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>And then, dashing out of the room, I rushed to our bedroom, and
+flinging myself on my bed, burst into tears.</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_5">CHAPTER V</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>Growing</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<div class="container">
+<figure id="image018">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image018.jpg" alt="image018">
+</figure> 
+<p>
+<br>
+<br>
+"DINNER, my good woman! It's very easy to tell you what
+we should like for dinner. A good seaside one, of course! We'll begin
+with scalloped oysters, some broiled mackerel, and boiled cod, with
+shrimp sauce, lobster salad—"<br>
+<br>
+"Some starfish jelly, and limpet tart, and crab cream to follow—"<br>
+<br>
+"And seaweed sandwiches and salt-water ices to finish up with!"<br>
+<br>
+Our landlady's face was a picture, as these volleys were fired at her;
+and Fräulein turned upon us with a sharp rebuke.<br>
+<br>
+"Go down to the beach, and let me not see you till dinner! You are an
+overwhelming torrent when it is business that I wish to talk!"</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>It was a fortnight later; Fräulein had returned to us at the end of a
+week, and, acting upon a letter she had received from our parents, had
+brought us all down to a seaside village on the sunny south coast.</p>
+
+<p>It was the beginning of March, early in the year for lodgers; but
+we liked the emptiness of the place, and were enjoying ourselves
+immensely. I did not find that my spiritual experiences were making
+my life less happy. Of course the boys teased me unmercifully. Every
+morning they would ask, "Still pious, Li? Isn't the fit over?"</p>
+
+<p>But as they always would tease about something, I did not mind; and
+found that I could laugh and joke with them the same as usual. Miss
+Moffat helped me a great deal; and I was beginning to like reading my
+Bible. Not that I could yet spend a long time over it without becoming
+weary; but Miss Moffat told me I must not expect to walk before I could
+crawl, and she advised me to read a short portion at a time, thinking
+over it, and praying to be taught.</p>
+
+<p>It was a cheering thought to me that God liked to see me happy. I never
+could keep grave for long, and my heart being at rest about the future,
+and at peace about my sins, made a wonderful difference to me.</p>
+
+<p>This morning, when we had scattered on the beach, and Thunder and I had
+taken refuge under a breakwater for a few minutes' rest, he turned to
+me and said, "I don't believe you're the genuine article, Li! It's a
+sham and delusion!"</p>
+
+<p>"What is?"</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image019" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image019.jpg" alt="image019"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'RE THE GENUINE ARTICLE, LI!</b><br>
+<b>IT'S A SHAM AND DELUSION!"</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"Your Christianity—or conversion—as you call it."</p>
+
+<p>"Why do you think so?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, because it hasn't changed you!"</p>
+
+<p>"I hope it has," I said soberly.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you're just as cheeky as you always were; it hasn't lengthened
+your face, or choked the fun out of you."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope it never will; but it has made a lot of difference to me
+inside. I'm not afraid of God any more. I feel I belong to Him, and am
+getting to love Him. I think it's a very jolly thing to be a Christian,
+and I wish you would be one too."</p>
+
+<p>Thunder gave a short laugh. "It's well enough for girls; but if you
+were at a public school, as we are, you'd know a fellow couldn't be
+religious. There are a few who try it on, but they're in their own set,
+and are too slow for words!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said I quickly, "it's their own stupidity if it makes them
+slow; it isn't religion!"</p>
+
+<p>We were interrupted here by the breathless arrival of Doodle-doo and
+Taters.</p>
+
+<p>"Hi! You two, come on! We're going out for a sail!"</p>
+
+<p>I was on my feet instantly, and down at the water's edge the next
+minute, where Pat was holding a parley with the boatman, whose smart
+little craft lay by.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, look here, my good fellow," Pat was saying, "I wasn't born
+yesterday, and there won't be room for you. We either have the boat to
+ourselves, or we chuck up the sail altogether! Take your choice!"</p>
+
+<p>"I say!" I said aside to Honey. "The boys aren't going to take us out
+after what Fräulein said?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, bother Fräulein," said Honey: "she's such an old fuss! Pat has
+managed a sailing-boat before this."</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image020" style="max-width: 30.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image020.jpg" alt="image020"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>"I'M NOT COMING," I SAID, DRAWING BACK.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>I was silent. It was a bright, sunny morning, and I longed to go. Yet
+only yesterday Fräulein had positively forbidden us girls to go in a
+sailing-boat without a proper boatman; and though I had not a particle
+of fear myself, my conscience was becoming more tender, and I felt we
+ought not to disobey her. Pat, meanwhile, had overruled the boatman's
+objections, and was marshalling us carefully into the boat.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not coming," I said, drawing back. "You know we've been forbidden;
+and we could go for a row just as easy; Fräulein doesn't mind that."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't be a little fool!" was his quick rejoinder. "Old Fräu will have
+forgotten she gave such an order when she sees us back safe and sound!
+What has made you so unusually squeamish?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's her pious fit!" cried Doodle-doo. "Let the little dear alone!
+She's going to be a naughty girl no more!"</p>
+
+<p>"Come on; don't make an ass of yourself!" said Thunder, tugging hold
+of my arm as he spoke. "Weren't you saying just now that your religion
+wouldn't turn you into a molly-coddle?"</p>
+
+<p>"Are you afraid?" laughed Taters, already taking a seat in the boat.</p>
+
+<p>It was my first battle. Strangely enough, up to now nothing had
+happened to put my religion to the test.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not afraid," I said slowly, looking wistfully at the boat; "but
+you're right—my religion won't let me go. I must be left behind."</p>
+
+<p>It seemed rather hard lines to me; but they were all so excited about
+getting off that they did not waste time in persuasion.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image021" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image021.jpg" alt="image021"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>IN PLAYING WITH PIXIE I FORGOT MY TROUBLE.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>Pat called out, "Go back to old Fräu, and tell her of the wickedness
+of her pupils! In Sunday-school books we should all be drowned as a
+punishment! You and she had better watch on the beach for our bodies to
+be washed ashore!"</p>
+
+<p>I watched them go with tears in my eyes. Oh, it was hard sometimes to
+be good! Why were forbidden things so nice?</p>
+
+<p>And then Pixie came running up to me, and in playing with him I forgot
+my trouble. We built sand castles, and destroyed them; and then, tired
+out, I sat down on the shingle, and Pixie threw himself upon me.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me a story, Li, 'bout one of those little ships that go away
+right into the sky. Pixie would like to go out in a ship with a big
+knife, and cut away all those dull old clouds that hide the blue sky."</p>
+
+<p>It was nearly dinner-time when the sailing-boat returned. All were in
+high spirits, laughing at me for having missed such fun.</p>
+
+<p>But when we got back to our lodgings, Fräulein was very angry, and kept
+Honey and Taters indoors for the rest of the afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we're a bad lot!" said Pat, listening to Fräulein's scolding
+with the greatest equanimity. "But you're going to have one saint
+amongst your pupils now, who will comfort and cheer your heart! Old
+Li's wicked days are over! Don't you see the difference in her face?
+A kind of what-a-good-girl-am-I smirk in the corner of her mouth; a
+what-a-wicked-set-I-live-amongst twist one side of her nose; and a
+oh-how-frivolous-is-earth roll in the whites of her eyes!"</p>
+
+<p>I got up and inspected myself in the mirror over the fireplace.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish I could see a change," I said; "it's the one thing that doesn't
+look religious about me; but Miss Moffat's face isn't a religious
+one—that's my comfort!"</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_6">CHAPTER VI</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>Working</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<div class="container">
+<figure id="image022">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image022.jpg" alt="image022">
+</figure> 
+<p>
+<br>
+<br>
+I HAD some ups and downs after this, but I was quickly
+corrected if I made a slip; the others seemed to keep a lynx-eyed watch
+on every word and movement, and if it had not been for Miss Moffat's
+letter, I really think I should have got thoroughly disheartened. She
+said in it,—<br>
+<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Don't think you won't tumble, my dear; young feet are very uncertain.<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But when you've fallen, let the Lord pick you up again; He won't<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;lose patience with you."<br>
+<br>
+Some days were records of failure on failure; but I was beginning to
+find prayer a great comfort, and, to my great delight, I was feeling a
+warm love filling my heart for the One who had done, and was doing, so
+much for me.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"It's a great comfort, Honey," I said one morning, as we were dressing
+in our bedroom, "that fresh days keep coming. How dreadful if we had
+one long eternal day with no break!"</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Because it gives one a fresh start. Now, yesterday, you know how I
+went on; I lost my temper with Taters, was rude to Fräulein, and ended
+by being sent off to bed an hour earlier for having that row with Pat,
+and smashing our landlady's hideous lamp in the hall! Well, to-day I'm
+starting again, quite fresh and jolly!"</p>
+
+<p>"You're an awfully queer Christian," said Honey. "I don't believe
+you're a proper one."</p>
+
+<p>"So you always say; but I can't be perfect all at once—Miss Moffat says
+I can't. Do you think I am getting on a little bit?"</p>
+
+<p>I added this rather pleadingly, and Honey responded warmly, "You're
+a brick! The boys say so, though they do tease you so. Pat said
+yesterday he would never have given you credit for so much pluck and
+perseverance. I'm sure you're as happy as any of us, and not a bit
+priggish, so far."</p>
+
+<p>"Then," said I, a little shyly, "I wish you'd try it too, Honey. I've
+been reading in my Bible to-day about the disciples following Jesus,
+and the one who went to the other and said, 'Come and see.' I wish you
+would 'come and see,' Honey!"</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image023" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image023.jpg" alt="image023"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>HONEY WAS FASTENING HER COLLAR.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>Honey didn't answer. She was fastening her collar, which didn't seem to
+meet without a great deal of tugging, and her face grew red.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll wait and see how you go on first," she said. "I've thought a lot
+lately, and if you can be religious, I don't see why I couldn't; but I
+shan't do anything yet."</p>
+
+<p>I felt very pleased at this, and from that time asked God in my prayers
+to make Honey decide to serve Him. She was always much more gentle and
+thoughtful than I was; and I often told her she would find it much
+easier than I did.</p>
+
+<p>The time at the seaside went much quicker than it did at home. We
+were out nearly all day long, and we explored the country for miles
+round. Fräulein was the only one who felt dull; she loved the town
+with all the shops and people; and then, too, she was always having
+the disagreeable duty of having to act as peacemaker between us and
+our landlady, who vowed she had never before had such a noisy set of
+lodgers. The boys and she were at daggers drawn, and I really think she
+would have liked to turn us out, if it had not been the empty time of
+year.</p>
+
+<p>On Sunday morning we heard a sermon that made a great impression
+on me. We went to a little country church, and I liked the simple
+old-fashioned service there. The text we had was:</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"'As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to
+another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.'"<br>
+<br>
+</p>
+
+<p>The vicar said a lot about Christians being so lazy and careless as
+they were, and not working for God; and he showed us that God would
+have no idle stewards on His property. It made me feel very ashamed of
+myself, when I remembered that for nearly four weeks I had known about
+and received this gift from God, and yet I had never tried to pass the
+good news on to any one. And when I came home I determined that I would
+try harder than ever to get Honey to join me; and after I had got her,
+I would try for Thunder.</p>
+
+<p>But, beyond promising to read a few verses from the Bible with me every
+morning, Honey still resisted my persuasion.</p>
+
+<p>"There's plenty of time, Li. I don't feel my sins a burden, as you did,
+and I'm getting rather tired of your preaches. Leave me alone. I mean
+to be religious some day, but not yet."</p>
+
+<p>One morning Thunder and I had been for a long ramble along the shore,
+when, coming back, we saw a great commotion on the beach. We found
+Fräulein jabbering away in excited German to several fishermen, and
+nurse rushing backwards and forwards looking quite demented, whilst Pat
+and the others were talking at the top of their voices, and all were
+looking anxious and scared.</p>
+
+<p>We were soon told what had happened; Pixie was lost, and the general
+fear was that he had drifted out to sea in a boat.</p>
+
+<p>Honey was the last one with him; she was lying in a boat tied up on the
+beach reading a book, when he came and joined her. Now, when Honey read
+a story-book she always got so engrossed in it that she never noticed
+anything going on about her. Pixie played about, talking to himself,
+and she remembers seeing him twisting and untwisting the rope, and
+saying something about wanting to sail away to the sky, but she did not
+take much notice of it at the time. She left him soon after, for a few
+minutes, whilst she went to exchange her book with one that Taters had,
+and when she came back no Pixie was to be seen. She was not alarmed,
+for she concluded nurse had come to fetch him indoors, and it was only
+just before we came up that they discovered that Pixie was missing.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image024" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image024.jpg" alt="image024"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>WE FOUND FRÄULEIN JABBERING AWAY IN EXCITED GERMAN</b><br>
+<b>TO SEVERAL FISHERMEN.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"And not only is he gone," said Honey tearfully, turning to me, "but
+the boat is missing! He must have undone the rope, and the tide has
+come in, and he must have drifted out to sea!"</p>
+
+<p>I looked anxiously out on the ocean. It was a calm day, and a few
+fishing-smacks were going out to sea, but there was no sign of a boat
+anywhere.</p>
+
+<p>"We must do something," said Pat, with energy, "and the sooner we set
+to work the better. We shall not be likely to find him after dark. If
+he has drifted out to sea, we must follow."</p>
+
+<p>And in an incredibly short time, he and Doodle-doo, Thunder and a
+stalwart boatman, were rowing out in the direction they thought the
+boat might have gone.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image025" style="max-width: 30.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image025.jpg" alt="image025">
+</figure>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image026" style="max-width: 30.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image026.jpg" alt="image026">
+</figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_7">CHAPTER VII</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>Praying</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>I DON'T think I ever remember a more miserable day than it was after
+Pixie was missing. Honey was inconsolable; the boys returned late at
+night, tired out, and thoroughly disheartened at their unsuccessful
+search; Fräulein and nurse were dissolved in tears, and both seemed
+perfectly helpless to make any suggestions.</p>
+
+<p>"He may have been picked up by some steamer or fishing-smack," I said,
+trying to speak hopefully.</p>
+
+<p>"I know he is drowned!" wailed Honey.</p>
+
+<p>"And it will be your doing!" said Pat severely. "You left a baby in an
+open boat, with the tide coming in around him; and when you found he
+had disappeared you never troubled yourself, or told any one for a full
+hour after!"</p>
+
+<p>Honey was too miserable to defend herself. Pixie was the darling of us
+all, and the boys were too alarmed to show any mercy. I tried to cheer
+her up, and then was assailed with—</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, do shut up with your 'hopes' and 'perhaps,' Li! Your grins are as
+bad as Honey's snivels. I suppose you think a saint ought to show a
+stony front at a time like this!"</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image027" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image027.jpg" alt="image027"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>"HERE I IS, AND A BIG FISH."</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going to imagine the worst, to please you," I said stoutly;
+"for I've been praying for Pixie ever since he was missing, and I
+believe God will send him back to us again."</p>
+
+<p>"Cant!" muttered Doodle-doo; but Honey whispered—</p>
+
+<p>"If God answers your prayer, Li, I'll become a Christian, like you."</p>
+
+<p>And then, about half-past ten, when Fräulein was urging us to go to
+bed, and Pat had just returned from visiting the coastguard station on
+the cliff, we heard a knock at the door, and a rush of small feet along
+the passage.</p>
+
+<p>"Hear I is, and a big fish for my supper! And Pixie saw a lot of fish
+caught in a net!" He marched in amongst us, his hat on the back of
+his head, hugging a slippery fish in his arms, which he deposited in
+triumph on Fräulein's lap. A fisherman followed him in, and explained
+that he had found him in the boat drifting out to sea, as we had
+feared, and had taken him on board his smack.</p>
+
+<p>"The coolest little chap I h'ever set eyes on! Said he was going to
+touch the sky, and warn't half pleased at havin' to come back without
+a-doin' it."</p>
+
+<p>Pixie could not understand the reason for such hugs and embraces as he
+received, and no one had the heart to scold him, until nurse said—</p>
+
+<p>"And don't you think it was very naughty to go off in a boat like that,
+and give us all such a fright?"</p>
+
+<p>Pixie looked round on us serenely.</p>
+
+<p>"The boat ran away hisself. Pixie only sat quite still and bumped up
+and down."</p>
+
+<p>"Weren't you frightened when you got out to sea?" asked Taters.</p>
+
+<p>He shook his curly head. "O' course I wasn't. When the boat jumped up
+and down very high, I asked Jesus to come in and sit by me; and I fink
+he did. And I asked Jesus to take me frough the sky into heaven; but
+this man broughted me back before I got there. And Pixie is very tired,
+and he'll go to bed, and have the fish for his breakfus!"</p>
+
+<p>Nurse carried him off, and we all followed his example; but before we
+got into bed, I said to Honey—</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you feel very thankful Pixie is safe?"</p>
+
+<p>"I should think I did! It's like a mountain's weight off me!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, aren't you going to do what you said!"</p>
+
+<p>Honey looked doubtfully at me. "Yes, I really will, but not to-night;
+I'm too tired."</p>
+
+<p>I lost patience with her. "You put off and off; and you'll never do
+it! I hate such shilly-shallying! Why can't you make up your mind one
+way or the other? Say downright you don't mean to change, instead of
+pretending you want to, and never doing it! I'm sick of your saying
+that 'by-and-by' you'll do it! If you don't take care, you'll put it
+off till too late, and then where will you be? You're as weak as water!"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you!" said Honey placidly, though I could tell by her face she
+was angry. "And you're a hypocrite if your temper can flare up over
+nothing so!"</p>
+
+<p>I dashed into bed, and worked off my indignation under the bedclothes.</p>
+
+<p>A quarter of an hour later, thoroughly ashamed of myself, I sprang up
+and went over to Honey's bed.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm awfully sorry," I said penitently; "do forgive me! But you don't
+know how I long for you to be as happy as I am; and I'm so afraid you
+will never do it unless you make a start now. God has been so good in
+preserving Pixie's life."</p>
+
+<p>Honey was not demonstrative—none of us were—but she gave my arm a
+squeeze.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Li! I don't really think you a hypocrite, but don't give me
+up yet. I really will start soon, but not to-night; and I have thanked
+God for sending Pixie back—I really have."</p>
+
+<p>I crept back into bed a little comforted, and then I determined that
+I would pray three or four times every day that Honey and Thunder
+might become true Christians. "If God can answer one prayer, He will
+another," I argued; "and I expect He would much rather have them
+Christians than save Pixie from drowning; for I should think He would
+be glad to have such a darling in heaven!"</p>
+
+<p>And so I prayed, and waited, and wondered why God did not answer my
+prayer sooner; for both Honey and Thunder seemed, in my eyes, to be as
+far off as ever.</p>
+
+<p>"A letter from your mother!" said Fräulein one morning. "And we home
+shall go at once. The workmen have papered and washed the house, and
+your father and mother are also returning quickly."</p>
+
+<p>I seized hold of Doodle-doo and spun him round and round the table in
+delight—</p>
+
+<p>"Hurray! We've been here long enough. When shall we go? To-day?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell old Skim-milk, and see her face when she hears the news!"</p>
+
+<p>And Doodle-doo rushed from the room to break the tidings to our
+landlady, whom we had nicknamed "Skim-milk" from the poverty of that
+article when brought to our table.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image028" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image028.jpg" alt="image028"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>"THE HOUSE OF THE FATTEST OLD FURY THAT EVER LIVED</b><br>
+<b>ON THE BEST TITBITS OF HER LODGERS!"</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>He returned chuckling.</p>
+
+<p>"What did she say?" we demanded.</p>
+
+<p>"She tossed up the tip of her nose. 'A blessed thing for me, afore my
+carpets get wored to rags, and my paint scratched off, and my house
+gets the name in the Terrace of containin' the vulgarest, noisiest,
+impertinentest set of children, big enough to know better!'"</p>
+
+<p>"And what did you say?"</p>
+
+<p>"I was very solemn. 'Do you know what name your house has got? The
+house of the fattest old fury that ever lived on the best titbits
+of her lodgers, and pried into their pockets and drawers for odd
+halfpence!' Then she looked round for a broomstick, and I walked off!"</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_8">CHAPTER VIII</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>Reaping</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>WE were glad to get home. I think we were getting tired of our long
+holidays, and were not sorry when the day was fixed for the boys to go
+back to school after the Easter holidays.</p>
+
+<p>And we all enjoyed having father and mother back again. Mother was a
+great invalid, but she was always ready to help and listen to any of
+us, if we went to her with our troubles; and father spoilt us all—so
+Fräulein and nurse said. He was always ready to take us sightseeing
+about London, and we were never tired of accompanying him.</p>
+
+<p>The evening before the boys went back to school we were having a small
+farewell gathering. We always had them every quarter, and cook used to
+make us a huge iced cake with "farewell" in pink letters all round it,
+which we much appreciated.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Moffat was with us, and so was Uncle Bob, and we spent the evening
+in games and merriment. It was during some dumb charades, with which we
+were winding up, that Thunder and I were alone for a few minutes. I had
+been longing to say something to him before he went back to school, and
+now this seemed the opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll write to me, won't you, Thun?"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't I always?"</p>
+
+<p>"And, Thun, will you try what I have tried?"</p>
+
+<p>Thunder looked at me for a moment without speaking, then he said
+gruffly—</p>
+
+<p>"I have."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, when? How splendid!"</p>
+
+<p>"A week or two ago."</p>
+
+<p>"And have you really started? Oh, Thunder, you might have told me!"</p>
+
+<p>"I meant to; but you know how hard it is to talk. I've been watching
+you, and I felt I was all wrong. I think I'm on the right track now,
+only it's the life at school I dread. You might, you know, pray for me,
+Li, when I'm gone."</p>
+
+<p>No more would he say, and I was so overcome that tears crowded to my
+eyes. It seemed too good to be true, and yet it was only the answer
+to my prayers. I knew Thunder was too thoughtful and thorough to be
+anything but real. He always had held on doggedly to anything that he
+had taken up, and, as Miss Moffat would say, he would have unseen power
+to help him along; so I had not much fear for his future.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image029" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image029.jpg" alt="image029"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>"OH, WHEN? HOW SPLENDID!"</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"Why, Mary, you're sunshine itself!" said Miss Moffat to me later that
+evening. "What makes you so radiant?"</p>
+
+<p>I gave her a good squeeze. "Thunder," I said.</p>
+
+<p>She understood, for she raised her eyebrows, and then nodded and smiled.</p>
+
+<p>Just before she left us, when I was putting on her cloak in the hall, I
+whispered—</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't it lovely? But I wish it was Honey."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Moffat smiled. "Pray and work for her, dear child."</p>
+
+<p>The boys went. We girls settled down to a very quiet routine of lessons
+with Fräulein, and felt dull after our long time of idleness and
+dissipation. And so the spring wore on and summer came, and still Honey
+wavered and said "By-and-by" when I talked to her.</p>
+
+<p>One lovely summer's afternoon we were gathering round the schoolroom
+table with black looks. It had been a trying day; Fräulein had a
+headache, and was unusually fidgety and cross, and the heat and
+confinement had made us careless and idle. After dinner Fräulein went
+to rest in her room, leaving us each so many French exercises to write
+out as impositions, and forbidding us to leave the schoolroom till we
+had finished them.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a beastly shame!" cried Taters, stamping her foot in anger when
+Fräulein had departed. "And I'm not going to do mine. Look!"</p>
+
+<p>And taking up her exercise-book, naughty Taters deliberately tore it to
+pieces and scattered the fragments out of the open window.</p>
+
+<p>We were rather aghast at this proceeding, for Fräulein was not a person
+to be trifled with.</p>
+
+<p>"You're a little silly," Honey said; "it will only be worse for you in
+the end."</p>
+
+<p>"It's too bad of Fräulein," I grumbled. "If I was a governess with a
+headache, I would give fewer lessons to my pupils, not more."</p>
+
+<p>"Even a saint can grumble!" said Taters, mockingly, and then she ran
+out of the room.</p>
+
+<p>We heard her whistling on the staircase, and then suddenly there was an
+awful crash, a piercing shriek, and dead silence.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image030" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image030.jpg" alt="image030"></figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>Honey and I rushed to the door, and I shall never forget the moment
+when, looking over the balusters, we saw Taters—a confused heap in the
+hall below. She had been sliding on the rails, a forbidden pastime, and
+in some way or other had overbalanced herself.</p>
+
+<p>Mother rushed from her room, and was the first to lift her up; the
+servants and Fräulein crowded round, and then nurse came up and drew us
+into the nursery.</p>
+
+<p>Honey was as white as death, and shaking like a leaf. "She isn't dead,
+nurse! Oh, she can't be dead!"</p>
+
+<p>"Pray God she mayn't be!" responded nurse. And she left us with Pixie,
+while she went to give her help.</p>
+
+<p>Our doctor came almost immediately, and there were hushed voices and
+footsteps all the evening. We were told when we went to bed that Taters
+was alive, but she had broken an arm, and concussion of the brain was
+feared.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>For weeks she lay between life and death. Honey and I were too
+miserable for words. And I kept praying in my heart, "O God, heal her;
+let her live—save her!"</p>
+
+<p>But at last she began to recover, and the first day that we heard the
+good news from nurse, "The doctor says she'll do nicely now," Honey
+turned to me with earnest resolve in her face—</p>
+
+<p>"Li, I've been fighting against God and holding back all this time. Now
+I will give myself up to Him. I want to be a Christian like you. I have
+been miserable about myself ever since you altered so. Tell me what to
+do."</p>
+
+<p>I tried to tell her, but somehow it was not very easy until I got hold
+of my Bible, and then that made it clear. I made her look at "Him that
+cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."</p>
+
+<p>And then she said, "That will do, Li," and left the room.</p>
+
+<p>I did not go near her, but put up a tiny prayer to God that He would
+take her as I felt He had taken me, and again I thanked Him for
+answered prayer.</p>
+
+<p>It was some days before Honey felt sure of herself, but at last she
+seemed to get the peace of mind she was wanting.</p>
+
+<p>"It is so good of God to have been so patient with me," she said. "I
+believe if Taters had not been nearly killed, I should never have made
+up my mind; but I never felt before how quickly we could die. Oh, Li,
+suppose Taters had been killed on the spot!"</p>
+
+<p>I shuddered. "God has saved her," I said, "and now we must pray for
+her. I should like her to start too. Wouldn't it be splendid if we
+three were all of the same mind before the boys came back from their
+holidays?"</p>
+
+<p>Taters was much impressed during her illness, but she disappointed us
+when she was well again, for she seemed more thoughtless than ever.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Moffat comforted me when I talked it over with her, by saying,
+"God has been good in letting you reap two of your family, my child. Go
+on praying and working, and remember, with you young people, that the
+life tells more than the words."</p>
+
+<p>"And I suppose it teaches us to be patient and persevering in prayer!"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Moffat nodded and smiled. "'Let us not be weary in well doing: for
+in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.'"</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+THE END<br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<p class="t4">
+PRINTED BY<br>
+HAZELL, WATSON, AND VINEY, LD.<br>
+LONDON AND AYLESBURY.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75734 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
+
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+This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
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+this book outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+book #75734 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/75734)