'My old man said he had had a lot of trouble, and he told me Mr. Russell had. Trouble always means people dying, doesn't it?'
'There are troubles worse than death,' Nesta said gravely; 'God grant you may never know such!' Then with a change of tone she said brightly, 'Don't look for trouble, darling; Jesus means you to be happy. Now shall we sing one more hymn, and then I must go.'
Betty joined in delightedly when Nesta began,—
'There's a Friend for little children.'
After it was finished Nesta asked,—
'What did you mean, Betty, by saying that a Mr. Roper had told you I would teach you? Who is Mr. Roper?'
Betty told her, repeating as much of the conversation she had had with him as she could remember; and Nesta laughed aloud when she discovered the origin of the 'lady who taught.'
'He meant Mother Nature, Betty; a very different teacher to me.'
'Do you know her, then? Where does she live?'
'I will take you to see her when next we meet. You see her every day, Betty. Now I must go. Good-bye. Is this a little doggie you have rolled up in your pinafore? I thought it was a doll. Now, Dick, you can come out.'