The sick woman threw herself back impatiently, but after a long, long silence she said more softly:
"Say them words over again, Meg; I've heard 'em afore, and I believe it's the Saviour as is knocking and wants to come in."
"Yes, mother," answered Meg, eagerly; "I couldn't call it to mind afore. It's the Saviour as sez He's a-coming in, if we'll have Him!"
"He's waited a long time for me to open the door," said the sick woman, "but—if He'll forgive—"
* * * * * *
And the clergyman's son heard the message, as he had so often heard it before, and he turned away from it as he had so often turned before.
But when he reached his own chamber that night, after the pleasant family party was over, his mind went back to what he had witnessed in that mission-room.
The little starving, emaciated, ragged boy had sat with his hungry eyes waiting for the coffee; but, though the child had intended to go to sleep, he did not do it, for the clergyman made it so plain that the Saviour was knocking at his heart that he could not forget it, and he listened with deep attention to every word.
"If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in."
"That's me," he said; "I'm anyone, anyhow. But I'm so 'ungry and so cold and so wretched, I don't see as 'ow He can care to come into my heart."