With no idea of what all this meant, Alice looked in the face of each person in turn while speaking.
"She's a chip off the old block," said Burwink, with a laugh. "She doesn't seem to have much fear of you, Jabez."
"I am hopeful she will feel different when she grows older," soothingly remarked Mrs. Ripley.
"I'd like to know what you build your hope on," replied Zitner, still curiously watching the child.
"I expect to have her a good deal under my care, and I shall do all I can to instruct her aright. This morning she knelt with us in prayer. You must remember she is very young, and has heard little, if anything, of Christianity."
Zitner shook his head.
"It's born in 'em, and you can't get it out."
"But, Mr. Zitner, you will not deny that we have a good many Christian Indians. There are plenty of them at Gnadenhutten, and the Moravian missionaries have been the means of turning hundreds from darkness to light. If they can do that with full grown warriors and women, may we not hope for the best from those of tender years?"
"I don't know about that," was the dogged reply. "I never believed in this conversion business."
"What can you mean by such a remark?" asked the shocked lady.