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.

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"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.

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