"No, but you will be when you get a church."
"Now," said the donkey man, getting bolder when he saw he would be supported by a majority; "will 'ee tell us, little miss, what good a church does 'ee?"
He raised his voice, and several lads and women drew near to listen.
Jill climbed back on her donkey. She did not like the look of the rough boys, but she bravely held her ground.
"It's a place where you can hear about Jesus," she said reverently, "and where you can ask Him what you want. Miss Falkner says He is always there to meet you."
"And what good do He do?" asked a lad with a mocking laugh.
"He helps you to set out, and keep on going to the Golden City," said Jill, looking at him with shocked disapproval. "You wait till you get your church, and Mr. Errington comes out to tell you all about it. You'll wish when you hear about it, that you'd been told hundreds of years ago!"
There was loud laughter, but one of the women came forward and looked at Jill somewhat wistfully.
"Your Golden City reminds me of a hymn I used to sing in Sunday school," she said. "It began, 'Jeroos'lem the golden'!"