t all. We don't want to go back
to London; it's so dreadfully hard to be good there.'

'But don't you want to see your father and mother again?'

'Yes, I s'pose so; but we don't see them very much in London. I'd like
to stay in the country for ever and ever, and so would Prince.' After
a pause she went on, 'You see, there's a good deal more going on in the
country than in London. We know a lot more people, and there's always
something fresh happening. Now, in London every day is the same, and
we have only the nursery to play in, we get so tired of it. At the
farm where we live we're always having nice surprises; lots of little
calves are born quite suddenly, or little horses, and we don't know
anything about it till we go and see them in the morning. Yesterday
there were six little black pigs, such little beauties! And then we
have so many more people to talk to. There's Farmer and Mrs. Giles,
and Sam, and all the carters, and the old man who digs the graves, and
old Jenny, and you, and Miss Fairfax, and Mr. Russell, but I've only
seen him once.'

Betty paused for breath.

'And what do you find to talk about to so many people?'

'I've been talking rather grave talks with some of them,' Betty said
reflectively, 'about tribulation.'

Mrs. Fairfax raised her eyebrows.

'That is very grave talk indeed for such a mite as you. What do you
know about it?'

'I know that everybody has got it except me, and I want to have it; and
old Jenny said I'd be sure to come to it soon. She's had it, and
Reuben has, and Mr. Russell, and nurse, and Miss Fairfax has. Has the
cross lady downstairs had it, and have you?'

Mrs. Fairfax's lips quivered a little as she turned away her head. The
soft, childish fingers were probing the wound, and she shrank from
their touch.

Betty went on dreamily, 'I often wonder what it's like, and whether you
feel like Christian did in the dark valley; but he got through it all
right at last! I should like to come right through it into the middle
of the text, and Jenny says I shall some day!'

There was glad triumph in her tone.

'What text?' asked Mrs. Fairfax, looking out of the window, and away to
the green woods in the distance.

Betty repeated once more the familiar words,--

'"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." How glad
they must be to have had it! don't you think so?'

And then t