The boy remembered a quaint text of Scripture: "Save me, O God! for the waters have come in unto my soul;" and he repeated it in the strong man's ear. "Go on," cried Wait, rising upon his elbow; "I have heard that before: tell me the rest."
"I have the good book here," replied Paul. "I am sure it will be pleasant to you, sir, if you will let me read."
"Do so, boy; I used to know it well. An old friend taught those strange words to me, but I have forgotten them now."
Paul read some soothing and beautiful Psalms, which took his companion's mind back to his native mountains, and the white spire of the village church where he had worshipped with his mother. The hard lines melted in his face as he listened, but Paul fell upon a bitter verse, and the agent's conscience began to trouble him. He could not look into the boy's eyes, for they seemed to rebuke him, and at last he commanded Paul to stop.
It was midnight. They heard the great clock in the hall strike twelve, and all the household slumbered.
"Go to your mistress's room," said Wait; "tell her that I must see her now—she must come at once. The morning may never come to me. Go; God bless you!"
He called Paul back when he had got to the door, and added falteringly:
"My boy, do you say your prayers?"
"Yes, sir."
"Would you mind thinking of me when you say them to-night?"