Miss Falkner paused. There was a short silence, then Bumps remarked reflectively—
"That was Jesus; no one puts their hands on children's heads and blesses them except Him!"
"It's a sort of parable, isn't it?" asked Jack. "I don't like parables, they make me feel so muddled. I love the Pilgrim's Progress if nobody tries to explain it. But it gets so mixed up when they do, that it's quite spoilt!"
"Would you like me to explain my story?" asked Miss Falkner gently.
"No," said Jack promptly.
"Yes," said Jill, in the same tone.
"We ought to be all journeying to the Golden City every day," said Miss Falkner. "I have only told you about the start, because I wanted you to make the right beginning. Perhaps some of you have started, have you?"
The children made no answer. Jill uncurled her feet, and her big questioning eyes were fixed intently upon her governess.
"I haven't started," she said abruptly.
"The King wants you quite as much as He wanted Rufus and Cicely," Miss Falkner said softly; "He wants all three of you."