“Yes,” said Rosa, “we should not only be studying the Bible for our own sakes, but be helping missions at the same time.”
“We'd be working for our missionary money then, shouldn't we?” remarked one of the girls.
“Yes, indeed!” replied another, with a laugh and shrug. She was not fond of committing to memory.
“It's a good way, though,” said Marty, standing up for Edith's suggestion, “and I'm going to start right in and learn something. Miss Agnes, I wonder how much they'd give for the 119th Psalm?”
Marty asked this in real earnest, and although Miss Walsh felt like smiling, she answered gravely,
“I don't think it is quite the right spirit in which to study the Bible, Marty—doing it only for the sake of the money, even if the money is for missions.”
“Oh! I shouldn't do it just for the money, but I thought if I could get more for a long Psalm than for a short one, I'd rather learn the long one, and have more missionary money. But I shouldn't want to do it if it was wrong, you know,” Marty added, looking distressed.
“I know you would not,” said Miss Walsh kindly. “I have no doubt your motives are all right, though you can hardly explain them. I can understand that you would be willing to do considerable hard work for missions, and I am glad of your willingness and enthusiasm. They help me.”
Then Marty looked radiant.
There were other plans proposed, and every one had so much to say that Miss Walsh had some trouble in getting the meeting to break up.