"'No, no, child,' I said. 'She is used to my wandering ways, and oftentimes I do not write for months.'
"'Isn't that unkind?'
"'I fear so,' I said.
"'Are you good?' she asked pointedly.
"'Not too good I fear.'
"'D' ye say your prayers nicht and mornin'? Had ye said your prayers on that day ye fell o'er that fearfu' cliff?'
"I was silent.
"Only a simple Scotch lassie would have preached to me thus. But she looked so saint-like as she sat there, gazing almost mournfully at me with her calm, tender grey eyes, that really I was thinking then more of painting her in a subject than anything else.
"'No,' I said at last, 'I am not good as you understand it, but you shall teach me.'
"'The way of transgressors is hard,' said the little Puritan; 'but oh, sir, the plan o' salvation is sae simple a bairnie can understan' it. What's your name, sir?'