, Pharaoh, too."

"But, mother, you said he could not possibly."

"Only because he did not want to."

"But he could not, even if he did want to."

"I hope I did not say that," said his mother, smiling at the eager and
earnest young face.

"No, auntie," said Harry, taking up Hughie's cause, "not exactly, but
something very like it. You said that Pharaoh could not possibly have
acted in any other way than he did."

"Yes, I said that."

"Not even if he wanted to?" asked Hughie.

"Oh, I did not say that."

"The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart," quoted Ranald, who knew his Bible
better than Harry.

"Yes, that is it," said Harry, "and so that made it impossible for
Pharaoh to do anything else. He could not help following after those
people."

"Why not?" said Mrs. Murray. "What made him follow? Now just think, what
made him follow after those people?"

"Why, he wanted to get them back," said Hughie.

"Quite true," said his mother. "So you see, he did exactly as he wanted
to."

"Then you mean the Lord had nothing to do with it?" asked Ranald.

"No, I could not say that."

"Then," said Harry, "Pharaoh could not help himself. Now, could he?"

"He did what he wished to do," said his aunt.

"Yes," said Ranald, quickly, "but could he help wishing to do what he
did?"

"If he had been a different man, more humble minded, and more willing to
be taught, he would not have wished to do what he did."

"Mother," said Hughie, changing his ground a little, and lowering his
voice, "do you think Pharaoh is lost, and all his soldiers, and--and all
the people who were bad?"

Mrs. Murray looked at him in silence for a few moments, then said, very
sadly, "I can't answer that question, Hughie. I do not know."

"But, mother," persisted Hughie, "are not wicked people lost?"

"Yes, Hughie," replied his mother, "all those who do not repent of their
sins and cry to God for mercy."

"Oh, mother," cried Hughie, "forever?"

His mother did not reply.

"Will He never let them out, mother?" continued Hughie, in piteous
appeal.

"Listen to me, Hughie," said his mother, very gently. "We know very
little about this. Would you be very sorry, even for very bad men?"

"Oh, mother," cried Hughie, his tender little heart moved with a great
compassion, "think of a whole year, all summer long, and all winter
long. I think I would let anybody out."

"Then, Hughie, dear," said his mother, "remember that God is much kinder
than you are