"But how do you know that? If He is good, why does He wish me to be like this? Are you sure He is good?"
"The Bible says so; and besides, He made us all—He gives us all we have—He redeemed us."
"What's that?" said Clarice.
"Oh! Clarice, liebchen, I don't know these things well enough to talk about them. We were all lost, and so He sent His Son to save us."
"Lost! Tell me all about it, mother."
"Why, you know all that, don't you, dear? I've taught you every one as much as I know myself."
"But it is so long since I did any lessons that I forget things. I know His name was Jesus, but I don't see, I can't remember, how He saved us. And what does being lost mean, mother?"
"Being bad and wicked, and not going to heaven."
"But we are not all bad. I dare say papa wants to be saved; but you are good, and so are Lizzie and Helen, and Aymer, and Guy, and Katty. No: perhaps Katty wants saving, for I've heard her swear, and sometimes she tells lies."
"We are all sinners—the Bible says so," Mrs. Egerton answered, helplessly. It was terrible to her to have to answer such questions and to hear such strange remarks.