"Listen, Mattie. You don't dislike to hear me talk, do you?"
"No, indeed," answered Mattie.
"You like the words I say to you, then?"
"Yes, indeed," said Mattie, wondering what would come next.
"But my words die as soon as they are out of my mouth."
Mattie began to see a glimmering of something coming, and held her peace and listened. Lucy went on.
"Well, the flowers are some of God's words, and they last longer than mine."
"But I understand your words. I know what you want to say to me. And I don't know the meaning of them."
"That's because you haven't looked at them long enough. You must suppose them words in God's book, and try to read them and understand them."
"I will try," said Mattie, and walked soberly toward Miriam.