rawing to its
end. To be sure she felt no terror now, but the night might bring it
back.

"How did you do it?" she asked, simply. "How?" The very simplicity of
the question puzzled him. "Why, I just gave myself up to his keeping; I
resolved to take a new road and follow only where he led. Miss Shipley
was the one who first made me think seriously about this matter; and
then I went to the service that evening, and everything that was said
and sung, was said and sung right at me. I was just forced into the
belief that I had been a fool, and I wanted to be something else."

"Miss Shipley!" Ruth said, brought back by that name to the wonderment.
"You are mistaken. You can not mean Flossy. She isn't a Christian at
all. She never so much as thinks of such things."

"Oh, _you_ are mistaken." He said it eagerly and positively. "On the
contrary, she is the most earnest and straightforward little Christian
that I ever met in my life. Why, I never had anything so come to my soul
as that little sentence that she said about having found a _Friend_.' I
know it is the same one. I have seen her with you since, but not near
enough to address. Her name is Flossy; I heard her called so that day on
the boat."

"Flossy!" Ruth said it again, in a bewildering tone, and rising as she
spoke. "I am going to find her; I want to understand this mystery. I
will give her your message, Mr. Flint, but I think there is a mistake."
Saying which she bade him a hasty good-afternoon, for the flutter of a
scarlet shawl had reached her eyes. No one but Flossy wore such a wrap
as that. She wanted to see her at once, and she _didn't_ want Mr.
Charlie Flint to be along. She went forward with rapid steps to meet
her, and slipping an arm within hers, they turned and went slowly back
over the mossy path.

"Flossy, I want you to tell me something. I have heard something so
strange; I think it is not so, but you can tell me. I want to know if
you think you are a Christian?"

I wonder if Flossy has any idea, even now, how strangely Ruth's heart
beat as she asked that simple question. It seemed to involve a great
deal to her. She waited for the answer.

There was no hesitation and no indecision about Flossy's answer. Her
cheeks took a pink tint, but her voice was clear.

"I _know_ I am, Ruth. I do not even have to speak with hesitancy. I am
so sure that Christ is my Friend, and I grow so much surer of it every
day, that I can not doubt it any more than I can