"She's a dressmaker," said Nan; "what a funny girl you are, to talk to a dressmaker about heaven!"
"Why? She likes it. She was talking to me of the Door into the Kingdom. Have you got through yet? Sometimes I think I have, and sometimes I think I haven't!"
"What door?" asked Nan with interest.
"The Door," replied Harebell a little impatiently. "We're all outside or inside the Kingdom, and the Door gets us in."
"Do you mean the Kingdom of England?" questioned Peter. "We only read about kingdoms in our history-books."
"No, I mean God's kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven."
"We can't get into heaven before we die," said Peter conclusively.
"We can get into this kingdom any day we want to; Miss Triggs said so."
Harebell was beginning to get rather hot in the discussion. Then Miss Forster came into the room, and lessons were recommenced. When they were over, Harebell put on her hat and coat to return home, and Peter and Nan accompanied her to the garden gate. They met the Rector who was coming in. He always had a kindly word for Harebell, and she at once seized the opportunity.
"Mr. Garland, you know all about God's Kingdom, don't you? And what you say must be right. Peter and Nan won't believe me. Can't we get into the Kingdom of Heaven before we die?"