,transcriber's note3 ,unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,boys ,,and ,,she ,,were ,,at ,,daggers ,,drawn4 ,a ,,thoughtless ,,seven ,,by ,,amy ,,le ,,feuvre ,,author ,,of ,,probable ,,sons1 ,,teddy',s ,,button1 ,,odd1 ,,eric',s ,,good ,,news1 ,a ,,puzzling ,,pair1 ,,etc4 ,,with ,,twenty-,,seven ,,illustrations4 ,,london ,,the ,,religious ,,tract ,,society #d ,bouverie ,street and #fe ,st4 ,paul's ,churchyard ,e4,c4 ,,by ,,the ,,same ,,author ,a ,bit of ,rough ,road4 ,miss ,lavender's ,boy1 and ,heather's ,mistress4 ,other ,sketches4 ,the ,mender4 ,me and ,nobbles4 ,odd made ,even4 ,a sequel ,odd4 to ,odd4 ,a ,puzzling ,pair4 ,the ,carved ,cupboard4 ,his ,little ,daughter4 ,on the ,edge of a ,moor4 ,bulbs and ,blossoms4 ,dwell ,deep2 or1 ,hilda ,bunny's ,friends4 ,thorn's ,life ,story4 ,eric's ,good ,news4 ,jill's ,red ,bag4 ,probable ,sons4 ,legend ,led4 ,teddy's ,button4 ,a ,little ,maid4 ,,london3 ,,the ,,religious ,,tract ,,society ,,contents -------- ,,chap4 ,i4 ,,thoughtless ,,ii4 ,,thinking ,,iii4 ,,starting ,,iv4 ,,telling ,v4 ,,growing ,,vi4 ,,working ,,vii4 ,,praying ,,viii4 ,,reaping ,a ,,thoughtless ,,seven ,illustration ,,chapter ,i ,thoughtless ,,she',s a good old soul in her way2 but we are not infants in the nursery1 and will manage a jolly sight better without her4 ,and we'll have a good fling while we are about it1 ,i say4 ,for she said she would be back in a week4 ,i shall do my best to keep order at mealtimes1 of course2 but ,i shan't be hard on you the rest of the day4 ,now1 ,doodle-doo1 leave that cushion alone4 ,remember what the last one did4 ,it was ,sunday afternoon1 and we were all enjoying ourselves in the schoolroom upstairs4 ,dinner was over2 there was a deluge of rain coming down2 and the blazing fire and a bag of chestnuts were keeping us busy4 ,it is needless to say that we were not sitting up in chairs in the orthodox fashion4 ,pat1 the eldest of us1 in his eighteenth year1 was reposing full length on our shabby old couch2 ,taters was astride on one end of it2 ,honey was seated on the coal-scuttle1 her feet inside the fender2 and ,thunder and ,i were lying flat on the hearthrug2 whilst ,doodle-doo was changing his position every minute1 and trying to make every one else do the same4 ,lest our names should be thought queer ones1 ,i should explain that they were of our own coining2 our baptismal ones were too respectable to find favour in our eyes4 ,i went by the brief synonym of ,li1 or ,lightning1 as ,thunder and ,i invariably did things together2 and ,i certainly outdid them all in swiftness of thought and action4 ,illustration3 ,i ,,brought ,,down ,,the ,,tablecloth ,,to ,,the ,,ground4 ,we had just recovered from scarlet fever2 our parents were abroad1 and our good old ,german governess had suddenly been summoned home to a dying mother4 ,nurse was with us1 of course2 but ,pixie1 a delicate little fellow of six1 who had fared the worst of us all in the fever1 took up much of her time and attention1 and we elder ones had long ago escaped and defiee her rule4 ,throw us another nut1 ,pat demanded4 ,i threw1 aiming with such exact precision at his nose1 that with a yell he sprang up and gave chase to me round the table4 ,round and round we spun1 until ,i brought down the table-cloth to the ground1 and with it a china flower-pot of mignonette4 ,that sobered us1 and we took up our former position again1 ,honey remarking1 ,i'm sure we ought to be better employed on ,sunday afternoon than making such a row4 ,why don't some of you get a book to read8 ,i've read all the ,sunday books again and again1 ,i said with a sigh1 for books were my delight4 ,no one can keep pace with ,li1 observed ,taters thoughtfully1 as she left her seat to put another chestnut on the bars2 why don't you start reading the ,bible8 ,that would take you a few ,sundays to get through4 ,i stared at her4 ,the ,bible6 ,why1 no one reads that for the sake of reading4 ,what's the good of it1 then8 demanded ,taters1 who was nothing if she was not argumentative4 ,to preach from1 of course1 put in ,doodle-doo2 and if ,i had the chance1 ,i wouldn't give such rotten sermons out of it as we heard this morning4 ,well1 come on2 give us a sermon1 if you are so good at it4 ,we'll give you a chance1 and a text too4 ,find him one1 ,li2 there's a ,bible on the bookshelf4 ,i found the ,bible that ,pat indicated1 opened it in a hurry1 and called out the first words that met my eye--',one thing thou lackest4' ,honey looked up gravely and sweetly4 ,you're not to make fun1 ,doodle-doo1 she said4 ,doodle-doo held himself erect1 and ruffled his cock's-comb1 as we called it1 in the importance of his position4 ,ahem6 he began4 ,my sermon will be brief1 but to the point4 ,pat1 one thing thou lackest--'tis control of thy beastly temper4 ,honey1 one thing thou lackest--'tis female tidiness4 ,taters1 one thing thou lackest--'tis the knowledge that thou art an ignoramus4 ,thunder1 one thing thou lackest--'tis a light and contented spirit4 ,lightning1 one thing thou lackest--'tis patient perseverance4 ,and1 ,doodle-doo1 one thing thou lackest1 ,i put in hastily--'tis the art of keeping thy cackling voice still4 ,illustration ,well1 young people1 what is the discussion8 ,we turned round1 and found that ,miss ,moffat from next door had quietly opened the door and come in amongst us4 ,she was a little old maid whom we all loved4 ,all through our illness she had been in and out1 changing her dress most carefully each time to avoid spreading the infection4 ,books and fruit had been plentifully supplied1 and we were not surprised to see her hands full of books and papers now4 ,illustration ,a little ,sunday reading1 my dears4 ,i thought you might be in want of some4 ,are you telling each other of your faults1 may ,i ask8 ,doodle-doo is trying to preach1 ,tater said1 her snub nose well in the air2 but his crows1 like those of his namesake1 are about nothing at all4 ,and what is the subject8 ',one thing thou lackest1' was the text ,i gave him1 ,i said glibly4 ,don't look so shocked1 ,miss ,moffat2 we weren't making fun of it4 ,it is a solemn verse to take up so lightly1 said our friend gravely4 ,do you know the occasion of our ,lord's saying those words8 ,yes4 ,don't preach to us1 there's a good soul2 and ,pat threw up his long arms and stretched himself with a terrific yawn4 ,i am on my way to read to a blind woman1 said ,miss ,moffitt briskly2 there are your books4 ,then looking over her spectacles at us in her quaint1 sweet way1 she said-- ,there is 'one thing lacking' with each one of you boys and girls4 ,try and find it out for yourselves1 and let me know when you succeed in getting it4 ,i should not like to see any of you one day 'weighed in the balances and found wanting4' ,and then she left us4 ,there was silence for a few minutes2 we were busy distributing the literature which had been brought us4 ,then ,thunder observed1 knitting his black brows into a heavier frown than usual-- ,i shouldn't have thought little ,moffat was a religious person2 but you can never see through a woman--they're always up to artful dodges4 ,she isn't religious1 ,doodle-doo said2 she only wanted to add force to my little preach4 ,shut up1 said ,pat1 giving a kick at him as he passed the sofa2 my 'beastly temper' won't stand a word more from you4 ,she's not a goody person1 nor a prig1 argued ,taters1 so she can't be religious2 and her face is as round and ruddy as an apple4 ,what is a religious person8 ,i asked4 ,i don't mean a hypocrite1 but a real true one4 ,what do they believe that we don't believe8 ,why should it be such an awfully canty thing to be good8 ,are you going to try it1 ,li8 ,i sometimes think1 said ,honey meditatively1 as she deliberately poked her slippered foot into the red-hot embers and stirred them into a blaze1 that after all 'we' may be the hypocrites4 ,what did we kneel down and pray for in church this morning8--',grant that we may hereafter live a godly1 righteous1 and sober life4' ,we haven't the smallest intention of doing it4 ,don't talk rot6 was ,pat's response to this4 ,and1 turning to our books1 we dropped the subject4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,thinking ,illustration ,,what',s the row with old ,li8 ,give her a pinch1 ,thunder2 she's half asleep4 ,she's planning some fiendish trick1 ,i bet4 ,we were at breakfast1 and ,honey1 who was pouring out the coffee1 looked across at me curiously after these remarks4 ,she was talking in her sleep last night1 and jumping about like a dancing doll2 ,i expect the chestnuts gave her indigestion4 ,rubbish6 ,i said quickly4 ,if you had had the horrible dreams ,i had1 you wouldn't feel very spry in the morning4 ,it was awful2 ,i didn't sleep a wink4 ,li is a wonder1 said ,pat admiringly2 she dreams wide awake1 and eats her breakfast fast asleep4 ,i was about to retort angrily1 when the door opened1 and nurse appeared with ,pixie4 ,the seven years between him and ,taters made him appear a perfect baby to us1 and we all petted him accordingly4 ,he was a pale1 fragile little fellow1 with a quaintness and courage all his own2 but in spite of his old-fashioned talk1 he was a thorough child4 ,i want one of you young ladies to take ,master ,lionel out this morning2 it's my busy day1 announced nurse4 ,all right2 ,i'll take him1 said ,i4 ,don't walk him off his legs1 and bring him in before twelve o'clock4 ,saying which1 nurse departed2 and we began to make our plans for the day4 ,pat and ,doodle-doo were going out on their bicycles1 ,taters and ,honey out shopping1 and1 after a little persuasion1 ,thunder said he would come to the common with ,pixie and me4 ,our house was in a ,london suburb2 but the common stretched away to green fields and lanes1 and was a favourite resort of ours4 ,pixie1 as usual1 was full of talk1 and beguiled the way by his extraordinary questions and ideas4 ,it was a bright sunny morning1 and wonderfully mild for the time of year2 so when we arrived at the common1 ,thunder and ,i rested on one of the seats1 whilst ,pixie played about4 ,i wonder when ,pater will write and suggest a change of air for us6 grumbled ,thunder4 ,we ought to go off to the sea or somewhere6 ,i don't think ,i shall ever be the same again as ,i was before that rotten fever6 ,i'm quite fagged out now with this bit of a walk6 ,fancy if one of us had died6 ,i said lugubriously2 for ,thunder's remarks were never cheering1 and ,i did not feel in a mood to comfort him4 ,you or ,i might have4 ,if we had1 ,i wonder what we should have been doing now8 ,thunder's black brows scowled4 ,you needn't have such dismal fancies6 ,well1 but1 ,i persisted1 ,i half think ,i may be going to die2 for ,i had such awful dreams last night6 ,i can't help feeling they were warnings4 ,what were they like8 ,i kept feeling myself in a pair of scales1 and ,i couldn't make myself heavy enough to keep down--,i would swing up in the air6 ,i clutched hold of the sides of the scale1 and pressed down with my whole weight1 but it was no good1 and all the time a voice kept repeating1 like the tick of a clock1 ',weighed in the balances and found wanting6 ,one thing thou lackest6' ,i woke up in an awful fright1 and couldn't get to sleep for ages1 and when ,i did1 ,i dreamt again1 that ,i was running for my life away from ,miss ,moffat1 who1 brandishing a red-hot poker close to my eyes1 was shrieking out1 ',one thing thou lackest6' ,thunder laughed4 ,i added seriously1 ,we're a wicked lot1 and ,i'm really and truly going to find out the one thing lacking with me4 ,i won't stand another night like last night4 ,what is it1 ,pixie8 ,illustration3 ,,did ,,he ,,see ,,me ,,just ,,now ,,when ,i ,,was ,,playing8 ,he was standing before us with troubled eyes4 ,is ,god looking out of the sky this morning8 ,i suppose so1 ,i said2 ,why8 ,did ,he see me just now1 when ,i was playing at killing a snake8 ,what have you been doing8 ,i asked severely4 ,i've cut one of ,god's dear little worms into two pieces6 ,will ,he be angry8 ,go and stick them together again6 laughed ,thunder4 ,but tears were very near the surface with ,pixie1 and clasping his hands1 he went on-- ,i was going to be 'such' a good boy to-day1 and ,i didn't really mean to kill the little worm with my stick--it was too soft6 ,will ,god forgive me1 do you think8 ,of course ,he will1 ,i said impatiently2 you didn't mean to do it4 ,then1 with a change of tone1 ,i said1 ,will you go to heaven if you die1 ,pixie8 ,he looked at me1 then nodded4 ,jesus loves ,pixie1 and ,pixie wants to go to ,him in heaven very much sometimes6 ,he ran away to play1 and ,i said with a sigh1 ,he has got what we haven't4 ,i shouldn't go to heaven if ,i died2 neither would you1 old ,thun6 ,fancy the difference between ,pixie's conscience and ours1 if he thinks cutting a worm in two an awful sin6 ,thunder remained silent for a little2 then he said-- ,being religious won't suit you1 ,li2 don't you try it6 ,you could never keep up being a prig1 if you started6 ,look here6 ,i said warmly4 ,i don't intend being a prig2 but if ,i like to turn religious ,i shall1 and no one shall stop me6 ,i jumped up from the seat1 and started running races with ,pixie1 whilst ,thunder whipped out a thrilling tale from his pocket1 and sat on reading till it was time to go home4 ,i laughed and talked my loudest for the rest of the day2 but ,i was miserable4 ,one thing thou lackest1 rang in my ears4 ,and at last1 after our evening meal was over1 ,i slipped away from all the noise and laughter in the schoolroom1 and went down to the dining-room1 where a bright fire was blazing4 ,then1 taking hold of a ,bible ,i found there1 ,i drew up a chair to the fire1 and commenced studying the story of the young man who lacked the one thing4 ,i suppose1 ,i said to myself1 that his fault was not following ,christ2 but it must be awfully difficult to lead a good life6 ,i suppose if ,i was to start ,i should have to say prayers half an hour long1 and be always reading the ,bible1 which is so dry4 ,i should have to give up all fun1 and story-books1 and fighting with the boys2 and then they'd all hate me1 and vote me a prig6 ,oh1 ,i couldn't do it6 ,it would be as dull as ditch water6 ,yet ,i do want1 oh1 ,i do want to be sure of heaven6 ,i know ,i'm not right2 ,i know ,i'm awfully wicked4 ,if only ,god would turn me suddenly into a saint without any trouble on my part6 ,i'm sure some people get converted like that4 ,yet ,i don't want to be a regular goody-goody2 ,i despise them so--they're always so full of cant4 ,i don't know what ,i want4 ,i should like to be right with ,god1 and not be so afraid of ,him6 ,this young man went away grieved1 it says2 he couldn't do it4 ,i suppose ,i shouldn't have to give up riches to follow ,christ1 because ,i haven't any to give up2 but ,i should have to give up other things quite as bad4 ,illustration3 ,,then1 ,,with ,a ,,whoop ,,and ,a ,,rush1 ,,in ,,tumbled ,,doodle-,,doo ,,and ,,taters6 ,,in ,,an ,,instant ,i ,,was ,,on ,,my ,,feet2 ,,stuffing ,,the ,,bible ,,under ,,the ,,cushion ,,of ,,my ,,chair4 ,and so ,i meditated1 and at last such an overwhelming sense of my own wickedness and shortcomings came over me that ,i dropped on my knees1 and put up the first real prayer in life1 though perhaps it may sound a queer one4 ,o ,god1 ,i'll follow ,christ1 if ,you'll make it easy for me4 ,i don't want to be turned into a goody person1 but ,i do want to be right at the ,judgment ,day4 ,i do want my sins forgiven1 but don't let me have to give up all fun4 ,and will ,you put me straight at once--to-night8 ,i can't stop till to-morrow4 ,then ,i waited for something to happen--some wonderful feeling to come over me2 but it didn't come4 ,and then1 with a whoop and a rush1 in tumbled ,doodle-doo and ,taters6 ,in an instant ,i was on my feet2 stuffing the ,bible under the cushion of my chair4 ,aha6 ,we've caught the truant6 ,she looks quite guilty4 ,take hold of her legs1 ,taters1 and ,i'll take her arms1 and we'll find out what she's been doing6 ,but ,i was not so easily caught1 and for the next ten minutes we had a breathless chase through the house1 until nurse held me fast4 ,miss ,mary1 ,i'm ashamed of you6 ,nearly fifteen1 and romping like a boy6 ,go to the schoolroom and be quiet4 ,you've woke ,master ,lionel out of his first sleep1 and now he'll be restless for an hour or so4 ,how ,i wish ,frulein were here6 ,a wish poor nurse very often expressed6 ,,chapter ,,iii ,starting ,illustration ,i ,,lay awake that night thinking4 ,honey and ,i shared the same room4 ,she generally made me impatient by her leisurely movements1 and ,i was often fast asleep long before she came to bed2 but now ,i lay awake and listened to her heavy breathing--sleep would not come to me4 ,why had not ,god answered my prayer8 ,i had been quite honest about it4 ,how was it ,i felt just the same1 and nothing had happened8 ,and then again the refrain began in my ears1 ,one thing thou lackest4 ,weighed in the balances1 and found wanting4 ,i do wish ,i had never found out that troublesome text6 ,i suppose it is a judgment on me for treating it so lightly4 ,i wonder what became of that young man2 where is he now8 ,i suppose he is either in heaven or hell this very minute2 and if he is in hell1 what would he give to have another chance--to have 'my' chance8 ,and then ,i could bear my thoughts no longer4 ,out of bed ,i crept2 and1 shivering1 knelt in the darkness and cold4 ,o ,god1 ,i'm afraid ,i wasn't in earnest4 ,i'm in dead earnest now4 ,i'll give up everything1 and won't care what the others say1 if only ,you will forgive and convert me4 ,i'll give up all story-books if they're wicked1 and will read nothing but the ,bible4 ,i'll follow ,christ at all costs1 however difficult and gloomy it will be4 ,i 'must' be forgiven4 ,i ask ,thee now to save me1 for ,jesus ,christ's sake4 ,amen4 ,again ,i laid my head down on my pillow1 and this time was soon fast asleep1 never waking till our maid came to call us the next morning4 ,you're rather silent1 ,li1 said ,honey1 as she brushed out her golden hair4 ,are you half asleep still8 ,no2 ,i'm very much awake1 was my response4 ,i am having very serious thoughts4 ,honey1 do you believe ,god answers prayer8 ,i suppose so4 ,how do we know ,he does8 ,by getting the answer1 ,i should think4 ,and1 of course1 the ,bible says so4 ,where8 ,and ,i rushed to a small table and took hold of my ,bible at once4 ,illustration ,i don't know1 said ,honey1 eyeing me perplexedly4 ,isn't there a verse somewhere1 ',ask1 and it shall be given you'8 ,yes1 of course there is4 ,the fact is1 last night ,i asked ,god to--well1 you know1 convert me--make me a proper ,christian1 and ,i want to know if ,he has done it4 ,i don't feel any different this morning4 ,do ,i look any different8 ,do you think ,he has done it8 ,li1 you aren't making fun1 are you8 ,fun6 ,i'm in downright sober earnest6 ,i'm going to follow ,christ4 ,i promised last night1 so no more larks for me4 ,i shall be reading my ,bible most of the day--at least1 do you think an hour a day would be enough to begin with8 ,my tone was rather pitiful1 for the prospect seemed dreary4 ,but ,honey did not answer2 she looked quite dazed4 ,if ,i only knew for certain ,god had answered me1 ,i wouldn't mind1 ,i went on2 but of course ,i have promised to live as a ,christian1 and ,i must try4 ,you may have my skates1 ,honey2 if we do get a frost this winter1 ,i shall never skate again4 ,i wonder if ,i ought to go to church every day8 ,you sound as if you're going to die1 observed ,honey4 ,if ,i was sure it was all right with me1 ,i should like to4 ,i think directly people are ready for heaven they ought to go there4 ,it is too tantalizing to be obliged to stay down here seeing other people having good times1 and being out of them oneself4 ,i don't know how ,i shall do it1 but ,i'm going to have a try4 ,before we left our room in the morning1 we always went through the form of kneeling by our bed for a minute4 ,to-day ,i felt it was no longer a form2 again ,i implored for pardon1 and asked to be kept straight in the narrow path that led to life2 and then we went down to breakfast4 ,if ,i were you1 ,li1 said ,honey on the staircase1 ,i wouldn't say anything to the boys about your feelings--not until you are more sure of yourself4 ,i won't breathe a word4 ,i never can keep anything secret long1 ,i said dubiously2 but ,i'll have a try4 ,the boys did not trouble me2 they were full of an expedition they had planned1 and this was for all of us to go and see a bachelor uncle of ours who lived about twelve miles away4 ,we'll take him by surprise1 said ,pat2 ,i'll hire a trap from the livery stables round the corner1 and drive you girls2 and ,doodle-doo and ,thunder can come on their bikes4 ,we shall have to start in about an hour4 ,he is sure to stand us a jolly lunch1 and it will be no end of a spree4 ,and who'll pay for the trap8 asked ,taters4 ,oh1 ,i'll stand that6 ,i've been saving lately1 and you girls must pay me some of it back when you get your next pocket-money4 ,it sounded delightful1 but ,i wondered if ,i ought to go4 ,however1 as nurse seemed to agree to it1 only telling ,pat to be sure to choose a quiet horse1 ,i thought ,i could safely venture4 ,and ,i will have a good read of my ,bible when ,i come home1 and say a few hymns to myself on the way4 ,that will keep me in a religious frame of mind4 ,with these resolves1 ,i set off with the others1 as lighthearted as any4 ,pat was a good driver4 ,when father was at home1 he was constantly driving round the country with him2 and now1 spinning along the high road with the fresh keen air blowing full in our faces1 our spirits rose1 and ,i talked more nonsense than any of them4 ,as we drew near the house1 ,honey said1 ,uncle ,bob has never been near us since we were first taken ill4 ,suppose he should be afraid of the infection8 ,that's just the fun of it1 laughed ,taters2 he won't be able to help himself1 and ,i'll give him such a hug when ,i get near him6 ,illustration3 ,,that',s ,,just ,,the ,,fun ,,of ,,it1 ,,said ,,taters4 ,we're out of quarantine1 said ,pat1 rather grandly1 and if the old chap shows the white feather1 ,i'll soon bring him to reason4 ,alas6 ,when we reached the house1 the closed shutters told us that he was away4 ,never mind1 said ,honey2 ,mrs4 ,sykes will give us lunch4 ,but this the old housekeeper did not seem disposed to do4 ,she came to the door in her rustling black silk1 and eyed us in stern disapproval4 ,your uncle is away in ,london for a month4 ,we heard you were all ill of the scarlet fever4 ,it seems a very unseasonable day for you to be out2 ,i should think you had better get home as quickly as possible1 for ,i believe there is a storm coming4 ,that we're not going to do before having something to eat1 said ,pat determinedly4 ,get out1 girls2 and ,sykes will get us some bread and cheese1 if she has nothing else in the house4 ,in we all trooped1 to ,mrs4 ,sykes's great disgust2 but she had a meal prepared for us which we thoroughly enjoyed1 and then we spent the rest of our time rambling over the house and grounds1 until ,pat said we must return4 ,give our love to the old chap6 shouted out ,doodle-doo1 as we were starting off in style from the front door4 ,he'll be awfully put out when he knows he has missed us4 ,mrs4 ,sykes muttered something like ,a merciful escape6 and closed the door sharply in our faces4 ,but we knew her ways1 and only laughed4 ,illustration3 ,,give ,,our ,,love ,,to ,,the ,,old ,,chap6 ,,shouted ,,doodle-,,doo1 ,,as ,,we ,,were ,,starting ,,off ,,in ,,style4 ,we had hardly got a mile away from the house1 when down came a torrent of rain1 and a severe storm burst full upon us4 ,illustration ,,chapter ,,iv ,telling ,,none of us had umbrellas1 and though we girls buttoned up our jackets and pulled the rugs well over our knees1 we got soaked through4 ,and then1 as a vivid flash of lightning flashed upon us1 followed by a deafening clap of thunder1 our horse reared1 then bolted4 ,the trap swayed from side to side4 ,pat muttered between clenched teeth1 ,sit still1 and hold your tongues6 ,and still as death we sat1 gripping hold of the back of the seat1 and expecting every moment to be upset4 ,illustration3 ,,our ,,horse ,,reared1 ,,then ,,bolted4 ,am ,i ready to die8 flashed through my mind2 and again ,i sent up an agonizing cry1-- ,o ,god1 forgive1 and save me6 ,we dashed on2 the hedges seemed to fly past us2 but the road was a straight and even one4 ,gradually the horse's pace slackened1 and at last1 with a tremendous effort1 ,pat was able to pull up4 ,then we looked at each other4 ,honey was as white as a sheet2 ,pat was wiping the perspiration from his brow2 and ,taters was the only one who laughed1 but her laugh was an hysterical one4 ,a near shave for us6 was ,pat's comment4 ,and not another word did he say till we reached home1 for we were all considerably sobered by our adventure4 ,i crept away to my room as soon as ,i could1 and thanked ,god on my knees for having preserved us4 ,i felt1 if ,he had heard and answered one prayer1 ,he would another2 and ,i went to bed that night a little comforted4 ,the next morning ,i ran in next door to ask ,miss ,moffat for a book she had promised to lend ,honey4 ,i found her writing letters in her snug little sitting-room2 but she turned round at once and made me sit down by the fire and have a chat with her4 ,somehow or other ,i soon found myself telling her all that was in my heart4 ,she had a way of getting everything out of us1 and ,i could never be reticent with her4 ,and do you think you have now got the 'one thing lacking1' my dear8 ,i don't know4 ,what do you say was the one thing lacking with that young man1 ,miss ,moffat8 ,he lacked union with ,christ1 ,miss ,moffat said softly4 ,he could not make up his mind to link his life on to our ,lord's2 and1 believe me1 ,mary1 you will never be able to live a happy ,christian life unless you get in touch with your ,saviour4 ,i don't think a ,christian life can be a happy one1 ,i said gloomily2 it is life with all the enjoyment taken out of it4 ,but ,i've promised to live it1 and ,i can't go back from it4 ,miss ,moffat looked at me with something like tears in her eyes4 ,oh1 child1 child1 what a wrong start you are making6 ,you say you have asked ,god to forgive you and save you4 ,how can ,he do it1 when ,he has said no sinner shall come into ,his presence8 ,i suppose1 said ,i thoughtfully1 ,he will do it because ,christ died for sinners--,christ died for me4 ,as ,i said the words a strange sense of peace crept into my heart4 ,yes1 ,miss ,moffat went on2 you have the right foundation4 ,but if you have just been received into the fold1 and have obtained forgiveness of sins1 and the gift of eternal life--if you have been made an heir of glory--whom must you thank for it8 ,the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,i said slowly4 ,and doesn't your heart glow with the thought of all ,his love for you8 ,have you no word of thanks to ,him8 ,you talk as if you are to live a ,christ-like life without ,christ6 ,the thing is impossible4 ,open your empty little heart to ,him1 and ,he will come in and flood your life with joy and gladness4 ,a ,christian life a gloomy one6 ,oh1 how little1 how very little1 you know6 ,get linked on to ,christ1 my dear2 get to know ,him as your personal ,friend1 and you will find you love ,him better every day you live--ah6 ,and you'll get to understand a little of ,his mighty love for you6 ,miss ,moffat spoke enthusiastically4 ,i could only stare at her1 for her words then were above and beyond my comprehension4 ,then ,i sighed1 though a spark of hope sprang up in my breast4 ,do you think ,god has answered my prayer8 ,i asked4 ,miss ,moffat turned over the leaves of her well-worn ,bible4 ',if we confess our sins1 ,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins4' ,faithful--for ,he never breaks ,his word2 just--because ,christ has suffered instead of us4 ,what do you think1 ,mary8 ,i did not answer for a minute2 then ,i said1 ,but ,i don't feel any different4 ,let your feelings alone2 rest on this verse4 ,run your finger along it every day1 and say1 ',god says this4 ,i'll believe it1 though ,i don't feel it4' ,if you keep on at that1 the feeling will come4 ,but your salvation does not depend on your feelings4 ,i got up to go1 and kissed our little friend enthusiastically4 ,you're a dear1 ,miss ,moffat6 ,you've comforted me a lot4 ,and you don't think ,god wants to take away my pleasures if ,i'm a ,christian8 ,miss ,moffat smiled4 ,he loves you1 my child4 ,he loves to see you happy4 ,he will fill your life with blessing1 if you are willing to let ,him4 ,i walked back to our house thinking4 ,and then a few minutes after ,i burst into the schoolroom4 ,the boys were cooking toffee2 ,taters was dressing our black cat in a paper frock and cap2 and ,honey was trying vainly to write a letter to mother4 ,i flung ,honey's book on the table4 ,i've something to tell you all6 ,i said4 ,illustration3 ,i ,,took ,,up ,,the ,,sofa ,,cushions1 ,,and ,,flung ,,them ,,with ,,all ,,my ,,force ,,at ,,the ,,boys' ,,heads4 ,hulloo6 ,anything grand8 ,why1 ,li is quite excited6 ,out with it2 your eyes are nearly starting out of your head6 ,i stood erect1 and faced them all4 ,it's something very good for me4 ,i'm a ,christian4 ,a shout of laughter from the boys4 ,just found that out8 ,what are we8 ,heathen8 ,i was not disconcerted4 ,i tell you ,i'm quite different to what ,i was a few days ago4 ,i found out the answer to ,miss ,moffat's question1 and ,i'm going to be really and truly religious4 ,pat tapped his forehead significantly4 ,poor ,li6 ,she has been rather queer the last day or two1 but ,i didn't think it would come to this6 ,li pious6 ,if you lived to be a hundred1 you couldn't be3 so don't you come here trying to green us6 ,exasperated by these jeers1 ,i took up the sofa cushions--our favourite implements of warfare--and flung them with all my force at the boys' heads1 exclaiming hotly-- ,i am6 ,i don't care what you say1 and how you laugh6 ,i know myself better than you do1 and if ,i choose to be 'pious1' as you call it1 ,i shall6 ,illustration ,and then1 dashing out of the room1 ,i rushed to our bedroom1 and flinging myself on my bed1 burst into tears4 ,,chapter ,v ,growing ,illustration ,,dinner1 my good woman6 ,it's very easy to tell you what we should like for dinner4 ,a good seaside one1 of course6 ,we'll begin with scalloped oysters1 some broiled mackerel1 and boiled cod1 with shrimp sauce1 lobster salad-- ,some starfish jelly1 and limpet tart1 and crab cream to follow-- ,and seaweed sandwiches and salt-water ices to finish up with6 ,our landlady's face was a picture1 as these volleys were fired at her2 and ,frulein turned upon us with a sharp rebuke4 ,go down to the beach1 and let me not see you till dinner6 ,you are an overwhelming torrent when it is business that ,i wish to talk6 ,it was a fortnight later2 ,frulein had returned to us at the end of a week1 and1 acting upon a letter she had received from our parents1 had brought us all down to a seaside village on the sunny south coast4 ,it was the beginning of ,march1 early in the year for lodgers2 but we liked the emptiness of the place1 and were enjoying ourselves immensely4 ,i did not find that my spiritual experiences were making my life less happy4 ,of course the boys teased me unmercifully4 ,every morning they would ask1 ,still pious1 ,li8 ,isn't the fit over8 ,but as they always would tease about something1 ,i did not mind2 and found that ,i could laugh and joke with them the same as usual4 ,miss ,moffat helped me a great deal2 and ,i was beginning to like reading my ,bible4 ,not that ,i could yet spend a long time over it without becoming weary2 but ,miss ,moffat told me ,i must not expect to walk before ,i could crawl1 and she advised me to read a short portion at a time1 thinking over it1 and praying to be taught4 ,it was a cheering thought to me that ,god liked to see me happy4 ,i never could keep grave for long1 and my heart being at rest about the future1 and at peace about my sins1 made a wonderful difference to me4 ,this morning1 when we had scattered on the beach1 and ,thunder and ,i had taken refuge under a breakwater for a few minutes' rest1 he turned to me and said1 ,i don't believe you're the genuine article1 ,li6 ,it's a sham and delusion6 ,what is8 ,illustration3 ,i ,,don',t ,,believe ,,you',,re ,,the ,,genuine ,,article1 ,,li6 ,,it',s ,a ,,sham ,,and ,,delusion6 ,your ,christianity--or conversion--as you call it4 ,why do you think so8 ,oh1 because it hasn't changed you6 ,i hope it has1 ,i said soberly4 ,well1 you're just as cheeky as you always were2 it hasn't lengthened your face1 or choked the fun out of you4 ,i hope it never will2 but it has made a lot of difference to me inside4 ,i'm not afraid of ,god any more4 ,i feel ,i belong to ,him1 and am getting to love ,him4 ,i think it's a very jolly thing to be a ,christian1 and ,i wish you would be one too4 ,thunder gave a short laugh4 ,it's well enough for girls2 but if you were at a public school1 as we are1 you'd know a fellow couldn't be religious4 ,there are a few who try it on1 but they're in their own set1 and are too slow for words6 ,well1 said ,i quickly1 it's their own stupidity if it makes them slow2 it isn't religion6 ,we were interrupted here by the breathless arrival of ,doodle-doo and ,taters4 ,hi6 ,you two1 come on6 ,we're going out for a sail6 ,i was on my feet instantly1 and down at the water's edge the next minute1 where ,pat was holding a parley with the boatman1 whose smart little craft lay by4 ,now1 look here1 my good fellow1 ,pat was saying1 ,i wasn't born yesterday1 and there won't be room for you4 ,we either have the boat to ourselves1 or we chuck up the sail altogether6 ,take your choice6 ,i say6 ,i said aside to ,honey4 ,the boys aren't going to take us out after what ,frulein said8 ,oh1 bother ,frulein1 said ,honey3 she's such an old fuss6 ,pat has managed a sailing-boat before this4 ,illustration3 ,i',m ,,not ,,coming1 ,i ,,said1 ,,drawing ,,back4 ,i was silent4 ,it was a bright1 sunny morning1 and ,i longed to go4 ,yet only yesterday ,frulein had positively forbidden us girls to go in a sailing-boat without a proper boatman2 and though ,i had not a particle of fear myself1 my conscience was becoming more tender1 and ,i felt we ought not to disobey her4 ,pat1 meanwhile1 had overruled the boatman's objections1 and was marshalling us carefully into the boat4 ,i'm not coming1 ,i said1 drawing back4 ,you know we've been forbidden2 and we could go for a row just as easy2 ,frulein doesn't mind that4 ,don't be a little fool6 was his quick rejoinder4 ,old ,fru will have forgotten she gave such an order when she sees us back safe and sound6 ,what has made you so unusually squeamish8 ,it's her pious fit6 cried ,doodle-doo4 ,let the little dear alone6 ,she's going to be a naughty girl no more6 ,come on2 don't make an ass of yourself6 said ,thunder1 tugging hold of my arm as he spoke4 ,weren't you saying just now that your religion wouldn't turn you into a molly-coddle8 ,are you afraid8 laughed ,taters1 already taking a seat in the boat4 ,it was my first battle4 ,strangely enough1 up to now nothing had happened to put my religion to the test4 ,i'm not afraid1 ,i said slowly1 looking wistfully at the boat2 but you're right--my religion won't let me go4 ,i must be left behind4 ,it seemed rather hard lines to me2 but they were all so excited about getting off that they did not waste time in persuasion4 ,illustration3 ,,in ,,playing ,,with ,,pixie ,i ,,forgot ,,my ,,trouble4 ,pat called out1 ,go back to old ,fru1 and tell her of the wickedness of her pupils6 ,in ,sunday-school books we should all be drowned as a punishment6 ,you and she had better watch on the beach for our bodies to be washed ashore6 ,i watched them go with tears in my eyes4 ,oh1 it was hard sometimes to be good6 ,why were forbidden things so nice8 ,and then ,pixie came running up to me1 and in playing with him ,i forgot my trouble4 ,we built sand castles1 and destroyed them2 and then1 tired out1 ,i sat down on the shingle1 and ,pixie threw himself upon me4 ,tell me a story1 ,li1 'bout one of those little ships that go away right into the sky4 ,pixie would like to go out in a ship with a big knife1 and cut away all those dull old clouds that hide the blue sky4 ,it was nearly dinner-time when the sailing-boat returned4 ,all were in high spirits1 laughing at me for having missed such fun4 ,but when we got back to our lodgings1 ,frulein was very angry1 and kept ,honey and ,taters indoors for the rest of the afternoon4 ,oh1 we're a bad lot6 said ,pat1 listening to ,frulein's scolding with the greatest equanimity4 ,but you're going to have one saint amongst your pupils now1 who will comfort and cheer your heart6 ,old ,li's wicked days are over6 ,don't you see the difference in her face8 ,a kind of what-a-good-girl-am-,i smirk in the corner of her mouth2 a what-a-wicked-set-,i-live-amongst twist one side of her nose2 and a oh-how-frivolous-is-earth roll in the whites of her eyes6 ,i got up and inspected myself in the mirror over the fireplace4 ,i wish ,i could see a change1 ,i said2 it's the one thing that doesn't look religious about me2 but ,miss ,moffat's face isn't a religious one--that's my comfort6 ,,chapter ,,vi ,working ,illustration ,i ,,had some ups and downs after this1 but ,i was quickly corrected if ,i made a slip2 the others seemed to keep a lynx-eyed watch on every word and movement1 and if it had not been for ,miss ,moffat's letter1 ,i really think ,i should have got thoroughly disheartened4 ,she said in it1-- ,don't think you won't tumble1 my dear2 young feet are very uncertain4 ,but when you've fallen1 let the ,lord pick you up again2 ,he won't lose patience with you4 ,some days were records of failure on failure2 but ,i was beginning to find prayer a great comfort1 and1 to my great delight1 ,i was feeling a warm love filling my heart for the ,one who had done1 and was doing1 so much for me4 ,it's a great comfort1 ,honey1 ,i said one morning1 as we were dressing in our bedroom1 that fresh days keep coming4 ,how dreadful if we had one long eternal day with no break6 ,why8 she asked4 ,because it gives one a fresh start4 ,now1 yesterday1 you know how ,i went on2 ,i lost my temper with ,taters1 was rude to ,frulein1 and ended by being sent off to bed an hour earlier for having that row with ,pat1 and smashing our landlady's hideous lamp in the hall6 ,well1 to-day ,i'm starting again1 quite fresh and jolly6 ,you're an awfully queer ,christian1 said ,honey4 ,i don't believe you're a proper one4 ,so you always say2 but ,i can't be perfect all at once--,miss ,moffat says ,i can't4 ,do you think ,i am getting on a little bit8 ,i added this rather pleadingly1 and ,honey responded warmly1 ,you're a brick6 ,the boys say so1 though they do tease you so4 ,pat said yesterday he would never have given you credit for so much pluck and perseverance4 ,i'm sure you're as happy as any of us1 and not a bit priggish1 so far4 ,then1 said ,i1 a little shyly1 ,i wish you'd try it too1 ,honey4 ,i've been reading in my ,bible to-day about the disciples following ,jesus1 and the one who went to the other and said1 ',come and see4' ,i wish you would 'come and see1' ,honey6 ,illustration3 ,,honey ,,was ,,fastening ,,her ,,collar4 ,honey didn't answer4 ,she was fastening her collar1 which didn't seem to meet without a great deal of tugging1 and her face grew red4 ,i'll wait and see how you go on first1 she said4 ,i've thought a lot lately1 and if you can be religious1 ,i don't see why ,i couldn't2 but ,i shan't do anything yet4 ,i felt very pleased at this1 and from that time asked ,god in my prayers to make ,honey decide to serve ,him4 ,she was always much more gentle and thoughtful than ,i was2 and ,i often told her she would find it much easier than ,i did4 ,the time at the seaside went much quicker than it did at home4 ,we were out nearly all day long1 and we explored the country for miles round4 ,frulein was the only one who felt dull2 she loved the town with all the shops and people2 and then1 too1 she was always having the disagreeable duty of having to act as peacemaker between us and our landlady1 who vowed she had never before had such a noisy set of lodgers4 ,the boys and she were at daggers drawn1 and ,i really think she would have liked to turn us out1 if it had not been the empty time of year4 ,on ,sunday morning we heard a sermon that made a great impression on me4 ,we went to a little country church1 and ,i liked the simple old-fashioned service there4 ,the text we had was3 ',as every man hath received the gift1 even so minister the same one to another1 as good stewards of the manifold grace of ,god4' ,the vicar said a lot about ,christians being so lazy and careless as they were1 and not working for ,god2 and he showed us that ,god would have no idle stewards on ,his property4 ,it made me feel very ashamed of myself1 when ,i remembered that for nearly four weeks ,i had known about and received this gift from ,god1 and yet ,i had never tried to pass the good news on to any one4 ,and when ,i came home ,i determined that ,i would try harder than ever to get ,honey to join me2 and after ,i had got her1 ,i would try for ,thunder4 ,but1 beyond promising to read a few verses from the ,bible with me every morning1 ,honey still resisted my persuasion4 ,there's plenty of time1 ,li4 ,i don't feel my sins a burden1 as you did1 and ,i'm getting rather tired of your preaches4 ,leave me alone4 ,i mean to be religious some day1 but not yet4 ,one morning ,thunder and ,i had been for a long ramble along the shore1 when1 coming back1 we saw a great commotion on the beach4 ,we found ,frulein jabbering away in excited ,german to several fishermen1 and nurse rushing backwards and forwards looking quite demented1 whilst ,pat and the others were talking at the top of their voices1 and all were looking anxious and scared4 ,we were soon told what had happened2 ,pixie was lost1 and the general fear was that he had drifted out to sea in a boat4 ,honey was the last one with him2 she was lying in a boat tied up on the beach reading a book1 when he came and joined her4 ,now1 when ,honey read a story-book she always got so engrossed in it that she never noticed anything going on about her4 ,pixie played about1 talking to himself1 and she remembers seeing him twisting and untwisting the rope1 and saying something about wanting to sail away to the sky1 but she did not take much notice of it at the time4 ,she left him soon after1 for a few minutes1 whilst she went to exchange her book with one that ,taters had1 and when she came back no ,pixie was to be seen4 ,she was not alarmed1 for she concluded nurse had come to fetch him indoors1 and it was only just before we came up that they discovered that ,pixie was missing4 ,illustration3 ,,we ,,found ,,fr,,ulein ,,jabbering ,,away ,,in ,,excited ,,german ,,to ,,several ,,fishermen4 ,and not only is he gone1 said ,honey tearfully1 turning to me1 but the boat is missing6 ,he must have undone the rope1 and the tide has come in1 and he must have drifted out to sea6 ,i looked anxiously out on the ocean4 ,it was a calm day1 and a few fishing-smacks were going out to sea1 but there was no sign of a boat anywhere4 ,we must do something1 said ,pat1 with energy1 and the sooner we set to work the better4 ,we shall not be likely to find him after dark4 ,if he has drifted out to sea1 we must follow4 ,and in an incredibly short time1 he and ,doodle-doo1 ,thunder and a stalwart boatman1 were rowing out in the direction they thought the boat might have gone4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,vii ,praying ,i ,,don',t think ,i ever remember a more miserable day than it was after ,pixie was missing4 ,honey was inconsolable2 the boys returned late at night1 tired out1 and thoroughly disheartened at their unsuccessful search2 ,frulein and nurse were dissolved in tears1 and both seemed perfectly helpless to make any suggestions4 ,he may have been picked up by some steamer or fishing-smack1 ,i said1 trying to speak hopefully4 ,i know he is drowned6 wailed ,honey4 ,and it will be your doing6 said ,pat severely4 ,you left a baby in an open boat1 with the tide coming in around him2 and when you found he had disappeared you never troubled yourself1 or told any one for a full hour after6 ,honey was too miserable to defend herself4 ,pixie was the darling of us all1 and the boys were too alarmed to show any mercy4 ,i tried to cheer her up1 and then was assailed with-- ,oh1 do shut up with your 'hopes' and 'perhaps1' ,li6 ,your grins are as bad as ,honey's snivels4 ,i suppose you think a saint ought to show a stony front at a time like this6 ,illustration3 ,,here ,i ,,is1 ,,and ,a ,,big ,,fish4 ,i'm not going to imagine the worst1 to please you1 ,i said stoutly2 for ,i've been praying for ,pixie ever since he was missing1 and ,i believe ,god will send him back to us again4 ,cant6 muttered ,doodle-doo2 but ,honey whispered-- ,if ,god answers your prayer1 ,li1 ,i'll become a ,christian1 like you4 ,and then1 about half-past ten1 when ,frulein was urging us to go to bed1 and ,pat had just returned from visiting the coastguard station on the cliff1 we heard a knock at the door1 and a rush of small feet along the passage4 ,hear ,i is1 and a big fish for my supper6 ,and ,pixie saw a lot of fish caught in a net6 ,he marched in amongst us1 his hat on the back of his head1 hugging a slippery fish in his arms1 which he deposited in triumph on ,frulein's lap4 ,a fisherman followed him in1 and explained that he had found him in the boat drifting out to sea1 as we had feared1 and had taken him on board his smack4 ,the coolest little chap ,i h'ever set eyes on6 ,said he was going to touch the sky1 and warn't half pleased at havin' to come back without a-doin' it4 ,pixie could not understand the reason for such hugs and embraces as he received1 and no one had the heart to scold him1 until nurse said-- ,and don't you think it was very naughty to go off in a boat like that1 and give us all such a fright8 ,pixie looked round on us serenely4 ,the boat ran away hisself4 ,pixie only sat quite still and bumped up and down4 ,weren't you frightened when you got out to sea8 asked ,taters4 ,he shook his curly head4 ,o' course ,i wasn't4 ,when the boat jumped up and down very high1 ,i asked ,jesus to come in and sit by me2 and ,i fink he did4 ,and ,i asked ,jesus to take me frough the sky into heaven2 but this man broughted me back before ,i got there4 ,and ,pixie is very tired1 and he'll go to bed1 and have the fish for his breakfus6 ,nurse carried him off1 and we all followed his example2 but before we got into bed1 ,i said to ,honey-- ,don't you feel very thankful ,pixie is safe8 ,i should think ,i did6 ,it's like a mountain's weight off me6 ,well1 then1 aren't you going to do what you said6 ,honey looked doubtfully at me4 ,yes1 ,i really will1 but not to-night2 ,i'm too tired4 ,i lost patience with her4 ,you put off and off2 and you'll never do it6 ,i hate such shilly-shallying6 ,why can't you make up your mind one way or the other8 ,say downright you don't mean to change1 instead of pretending you want to1 and never doing it6 ,i'm sick of your saying that 'by-and-by' you'll do it6 ,if you don't take care1 you'll put it off till too late1 and then where will you be8 ,you're as weak as water6 ,thank you6 said ,honey placidly1 though ,i could tell by her face she was angry4 ,and you're a hypocrite if your temper can flare up over nothing so6 ,i dashed into bed1 and worked off my indignation under the bedclothes4 ,a quarter of an hour later1 thoroughly ashamed of myself1 ,i sprang up and went over to ,honey's bed4 ,i'm awfully sorry1 ,i said penitently2 do forgive me6 ,but you don't know how ,i long for you to be as happy as ,i am2 and ,i'm so afraid you will never do it unless you make a start now4 ,god has been so good in preserving ,pixie's life4 ,honey was not demonstrative--none of us were--but she gave my arm a squeeze4 ,all right1 ,li6 ,i don't really think you a hypocrite1 but don't give me up yet4 ,i really will start soon1 but not to-night2 and ,i have thanked ,god for sending ,pixie back--,i really have4 ,i crept back into bed a little comforted1 and then ,i determined that ,i would pray three or four times every day that ,honey and ,thunder might become true ,christians4 ,if ,god can answer one prayer1 ,he will another1 ,i argued2 and ,i expect ,he would much rather have them ,christians than save ,pixie from drowning2 for ,i should think ,he would be glad to have such a darling in heaven6 ,and so ,i prayed1 and waited1 and wondered why ,god did not answer my prayer sooner2 for both ,honey and ,thunder seemed1 in my eyes1 to be as far off as ever4 ,a letter from your mother6 said ,frulein one morning4 ,and we home shall go at once4 ,the workmen have papered and washed the house1 and your father and mother are also returning quickly4 ,i seized hold of ,doodle-doo and spun him round and round the table in delight-- ,hurray6 ,we've been here long enough4 ,when shall we go8 ,to-day8 ,i'll tell old ,skim-milk1 and see her face when she hears the news6 ,and ,doodle-doo rushed from the room to break the tidings to our landlady1 whom we had nicknamed ,skim-milk from the poverty of that article when brought to our table4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,the ,,fattest ,,old ,,fury ,,that ,,ever ,,lived ,,on ,,the ,,best ,,titbits ,,of ,,her ,,lodgers6 ,he returned chuckling4 ,what did she say8 we demanded4 ,she tossed up the tip of her nose4 ',a blessed thing for me1 afore my carpets get wored to rags1 and my paint scratched off1 and my house gets the name in the ,terrace of containin' the vulgarest1 noisiest1 impertinentest set of children1 big enough to know better6' ,and what did you say8 ,i was very solemn4 ',do you know what name your house has got8 ,the house of the fattest old fury that ever lived on the best titbits of her lodgers1 and pried into their pockets and drawers for odd halfpence6' ,then she looked round for a broomstick1 and ,i walked off6 ,,chapter ,,viii ,reaping ,,we were glad to get home4 ,i think we were getting tired of our long holidays1 and were not sorry when the day was fixed for the boys to go back to school after the ,easter holidays4 ,and we all enjoyed having father and mother back again4 ,mother was a great invalid1 but she was always ready to help and listen to any of us1 if we went to her with our troubles2 and father spoilt us all--so ,frulein and nurse said4 ,he was always ready to take us sightseeing about ,london1 and we were never tired of accompanying him4 ,the evening before the boys went back to school we were having a small farewell gathering4 ,we always had them every quarter1 and cook used to make us a huge iced cake with farewell in pink letters all round it1 which we much appreciated4 ,miss ,moffat was with us1 and so was ,uncle ,bob1 and we spent the evening in games and merriment4 ,it was during some dumb charades1 with which we were winding up1 that ,thunder and ,i were alone for a few minutes4 ,i had been longing to say something to him before he went back to school1 and now this seemed the opportunity4 ,you'll write to me1 won't you1 ,thun8 ,don't ,i always8 ,and1 ,thun1 will you try what ,i have tried8 ,thunder looked at me for a moment without speaking1 then he said gruffly-- ,i have4 ,oh1 when8 ,how splendid6 ,a week or two ago4 ,and have you really started8 ,oh1 ,thunder1 you might have told me6 ,i meant to2 but you know how hard it is to talk4 ,i've been watching you1 and ,i felt ,i was all wrong4 ,i think ,i'm on the right track now1 only it's the life at school ,i dread4 ,you might1 you know1 pray for me1 ,li1 when ,i'm gone4 ,no more would he say1 and ,i was so overcome that tears crowded to my eyes4 ,it seemed too good to be true1 and yet it was only the answer to my prayers4 ,i knew ,thunder was too thoughtful and thorough to be anything but real4 ,he always had held on doggedly to anything that he had taken up1 and1 as ,miss ,moffat would say1 he would have unseen power to help him along2 so ,i had not much fear for his future4 ,illustration3 ,,oh1 ,,when8 ,,how ,,splendid6 ,why1 ,mary1 you're sunshine itself6 said ,miss ,moffat to me later that evening4 ,what makes you so radiant8 ,i gave her a good squeeze4 ,thunder1 ,i said4 ,she understood1 for she raised her eyebrows1 and then nodded and smiled4 ,just before she left us1 when ,i was putting on her cloak in the hall1 ,i whispered-- ,isn't it lovely8 ,but ,i wish it was ,honey4 ,miss ,moffat smiled4 ,pray and work for her1 dear child4 ,the boys went4 ,we girls settled down to a very quiet routine of lessons with ,frulein1 and felt dull after our long time of idleness and dissipation4 ,and so the spring wore on and summer came1 and still ,honey wavered and said ,by-and-by when ,i talked to her4 ,one lovely summer's afternoon we were gathering round the schoolroom table with black looks4 ,it had been a trying day2 ,frulein had a headache1 and was unusually fidgety and cross1 and the heat and confinement had made us careless and idle4 ,after dinner ,frulein went to rest in her room1 leaving us each so many ,french exercises to write out as impositions1 and forbidding us to leave the schoolroom till we had finished them4 ,it's a beastly shame6 cried ,taters1 stamping her foot in anger when ,frulein had departed4 ,and ,i'm not going to do mine4 ,look6 ,and taking up her exercise-book1 naughty ,taters deliberately tore it to pieces and scattered the fragments out of the open window4 ,we were rather aghast at this proceeding1 for ,frulein was not a person to be trifled with4 ,you're a little silly1 ,honey said2 it will only be worse for you in the end4 ,it's too bad of ,frulein1 ,i grumbled4 ,if ,i was a governess with a headache1 ,i would give fewer lessons to my pupils1 not more4 ,even a saint can grumble6 said ,taters1 mockingly1 and then she ran out of the room4 ,we heard her whistling on the staircase1 and then suddenly there was an awful crash1 a piercing shriek1 and dead silence4 ,illustration ,honey and ,i rushed to the door1 and ,i shall never forget the moment when1 looking over the balusters1 we saw ,taters--a confused heap in the hall below4 ,she had been sliding on the rails1 a forbidden pastime1 and in some way or other had overbalanced herself4 ,mother rushed from her room1 and was the first to lift her up2 the servants and ,frulein crowded round1 and then nurse came up and drew us into the nursery4 ,honey was as white as death1 and shaking like a leaf4 ,she isn't dead1 nurse6 ,oh1 she can't be dead6 ,pray ,god she mayn't be6 responded nurse4 ,and she left us with ,pixie1 while she went to give her help4 ,our doctor came almost immediately1 and there were hushed voices and footsteps all the evening4 ,we were told when we went to bed that ,taters was alive1 but she had broken an arm1 and concussion of the brain was feared4 ,for weeks she lay between life and death4 ,honey and ,i were too miserable for words4 ,and ,i kept praying in my heart1 ,o ,god1 heal her2 let her live--save her6 ,but at last she began to recover1 and the first day that we heard the good news from nurse1 ,the doctor says she'll do nicely now1 ,honey turned to me with earnest resolve in her face-- ,li1 ,i've been fighting against ,god and holding back all this time4 ,now ,i will give myself up to ,him4 ,i want to be a ,christian like you4 ,i have been miserable about myself ever since you altered so4 ,tell me what to do4 ,i tried to tell her1 but somehow it was not very easy until ,i got hold of my ,bible1 and then that made it clear4 ,i made her look at ,him that cometh to ,me ,i will in no wise cast out4 ,and then she said1 ,that will do1 ,li1 and left the room4 ,i did not go near her1 but put up a tiny prayer to ,god that ,he would take her as ,i felt ,he had taken me1 and again ,i thanked ,him for answered prayer4 ,it was some days before ,honey felt sure of herself1 but at last she seemed to get the peace of mind she was wanting4 ,it is so good of ,god to have been so patient with me1 she said4 ,i believe if ,taters had not been nearly killed1 ,i should never have made up my mind2 but ,i never felt before how quickly we could die4 ,oh1 ,li1 suppose ,taters had been killed on the spot6 ,i shuddered4 ,god has saved her1 ,i said1 and now we must pray for her4 ,i should like her to start too4 ,wouldn't it be splendid if we three were all of the same mind before the boys came back from their holidays8 ,taters was much impressed during her illness1 but she disappointed us when she was well again1 for she seemed more thoughtless than ever4 ,miss ,moffat comforted me when ,i talked it over with her1 by saying1 ,god has been good in letting you reap two of your family1 my child4 ,go on praying and working1 and remember1 with you young people1 that the life tells more than the words4 ,and ,i suppose it teaches us to be patient and persevering in prayer6 ,miss ,moffat nodded and smiled4 ',let us not be weary in well doing3 for in due season we shall reap1 if we faint not4' ,,the ,,end ,,printed ,,by ,,hazell1 ,,watson1 ,,and ,,viney1 ,,ld4 ,,london ,,and ,,aylesbury4