"Sure an' that I have, sir," said Job, unable to wait. "Haven't I been His humble servant twenty years an' more?"
"But it is no service of your own which can bear you heavenwards. The Blood of the Lamb and that alone can save us from our sins. Our love and service are but the fruit and not the root of our salvation."
"I knows it, sir, but 'tis good to hear it again. Twenty years I've never missed church on Sunday, an' now I can't go to hear the Word, sure 'tis my Master Himself has sent you to cheer me up."
They went into an earnest conversation, Job speaking from time to time, but usually listening, with a smile of intense happiness. Leveson's little Bible came out next, and during the reading which followed, Josie mustered courage to steal away from her brother's side, and approach Ailie. They only stood looking at each other silently, until Leveson had ceased to read, and was speaking again; then Josie said—
"You're not starving now, I suppose?"
"No," said Ailie.
"Were you really starving that day?"
Ailie nodded.
"That was why you could not come next morning, wasn't it?"
"Lettie went 'stead of me," said Ailie.