They were to begin at half-past eleven. The hymn sheets were handed round; and when Walter had given out in a clear voice the number, and read one verse of "A charge to keep I have," Nellie in rather trembling tones set the tune.
If Ada had not loved Nellie she told herself that she would not have joined, but in order to help her sister she did her best. And before the end of the first verse, the children took it up, and the hymn went well to the end.
Nellie found a lovely voice helping, close behind her, but was too nervous to turn; but when they all sat down she caught a glimpse of Miss Arbuthnot's dress, and guessed it was she who had sung so sweetly.
"Walter said we should find someone," thought Nellie thankfully; but she had no time to think more, for Walter, who was standing close to the upper end of the little circle, began in his pleasant voice—
"Now, children, can you all read our teat? It is upside down to a few of you; but see, I have written it so as to be read by those at the bottom, and I know it by heart. Let me see if you can all say it after me—'Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.'
"Now I shall only keep you half an hour altogether; and as we are going to sing two hymns there will not be too much time, so I hope you will all be very attentive, and be able to tell your mammas every word I say.
"'You are not your own!' Now whom do you belong to?"
He paused, and looked round the little circle.
"Some of you will say, I belong to mamma; some of you will say, I belong to papa, or to my grandparents, or to whoever has the charge of you. But whom do you belong to?
"It says here—can you read it?—'Your body and your spirit are God's.' Yes, you belong to God; therefore you must serve Him! Some of you love to please those who have the charge of you. Now do you not? How nice it is to hear one who loves you say, 'That is a good boy!' 'That is a good girl!' Yes, I know you do. But much, much more you will like to hear God say to you, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!'