"No, ma'am," replied Lottie.
"Where, then, did you get the idea?"
"Hester Brown is sure——"
Hester's face was scarlet. She felt that she was called upon to bear witness.
"My father and mother believe it, and we are all getting ready. My uncle means to give away all his things next week."
The girl was in such earnest that Mrs. Craven was puzzled for a moment.
"I do not think we shall know the day or the hour," was the reply. "We are all exhorted to go on diligently with whatever we are doing. And Lottie, Hester has certainly set you an example. She did her sums correctly. She has added works to her faith as the Bible commands. I am aware many people think the end of the world is near, but that is no reason for our being careless and indolent. I doubt if that excuse would be accepted; at all events, I cannot accept yours."
"But I hate fractions! The divisors and the multiples get all mixed up and go racing round in my head until I can't tell one from the other."
"Bring your slate here." Mrs. Craven made room for her by the table. "Now, what is the trouble?"
Twelve o'clock struck before Lottie was through, but she had to admit that it wasn't so "awful" when Mrs. Craven explained the sums in her quiet, lucid manner. The girls rose and went to the closet for their hats and capes.