I can hardly understand it. It
is unlike her to take any notice of children.' Then she added, 'Do you
think you can make yourself happy in the garden, Betty, or would you
like to go down the green walk outside the little gate?'

'Will you open the gate and let me see?' said Betty thoughtfully.

Nesta took her to it, and then for a moment they stood silent, looking
down the green avenue, with the golden sunshine glinting through the
leafy trees, and the tall bracken swaying to and fro in the summer
breeze.

'Which do you like best, Betty--the garden or this?'

Betty turned and looked behind her at the lovely flowers and
beautifully kept grass and gravel walks, and then she heaved a little
sigh as she looked out into the wood.

'My beautiful old lady asked me that question before, and I thought
then I liked the garden, but now I like this green walk best,' she said.

'You prefer nature uncultivated, don't you? So do I. But I do not
often come out here. This is my mother's favourite spot.'

'Did you say "Nature"?' questioned betty eagerly. 'Do you mean Mother
Nature? You said you would show her to me one day.'

'So I did, I have quite forgotten. Well, there she is out there,
Betty. Nature is God's beautiful earth: the country, the birds, the
rabbits, and the squirrels--everything that He makes and that man
leaves alone.'

'I don't understand;' and the child's white brow was creased with
puckers. 'I thought she was a woman: Mr. Roper said she was; he said
he had learnt many a lesson from her.'

'And so have I,' said Nesta softly. 'Listen, Betty. Sometimes I have
gone out of doors tired and worried and sad; I have wandered through
the wood, and the sweet sounds and sights I have seen in it have
brought me home rested and refreshed. They have spoken to me of God's
love, and God's care, and God's perfection. You are too little to
understand me, I expect, but you will when you get older. God makes
everything beautiful, and He watches over the tiny birds and insects
whom no one but Himself ever sees. The tiniest flower is noticed by
Him, and all His works in nature lead us to think of Him, and to
remember how He loves and cares for us.'

Betty's blue eyes were raised earnestly upwards.

'God does love everything, doesn't He? And He loves Prince just as
much as He does you and me.'

Nesta hesitated. 'I think, darling, God has a different love for us to
what He has for animals. We have cost the