"It is just as great and noble a thing, Norah, my girl, to live for religion, and that is what all believers must do; for we only deceive ourselves when we think that without obedience to God we have either true faith or love."
"I don't quite know what you mean," said Norah.
"Do you remember the words of Christ? 'He that taketh not his cross and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.'" *
* Matthew x. 38
"I can't tell what my cross is," said Norah, "nor how I can take it up."
"We take up our cross whenever we do for conscience what we would not do for pleasure," observed Ned, "or when we give up for the Lord's sake what we would willingly have for our own. To come to the point, Norah—for I like plain sailing, and you'll understand twenty times better if I speak of a simple fact—would you mind telling me frankly whether Mrs. Martin gave you that tea?"
"No," replied Norah, faintly.
"Thank God, she at least is truthful," thought the sailor.
"And did you," he continued aloud, "buy that tea for your mother?"
Norah silently shook her head.