"He gives the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him."

The little party were silent; Alice's unusual feeling startled them. The Sunday afternoon was drawing in, and the light fading.

Presently Agnes said, "I have thought of a little allegory; would you like to hear it? It might help us to understand Alice's difficulty."

The question did not need repeating, and she began:


CHAPTER X.

THE GOLDEN OIL: AN ALLEGORY.