Joanna hesitated. "Well—nobody really knows."
"Not even a minister?"
"Perhaps he would. But you have asked enough questions. Now try and go to sleep."
Cyrus obeyed, and slept. But that evening when his father came up and was sitting by the bed he made further efforts to get light on the darkest of all subjects. Dr. Alton, however, saw signs of a feverish excitement in the usually calm eyes of the invalid, and he decided upon a soothing course of religious instruction. He knew that this sudden thirst for knowledge in a fresh field could not be allayed by any off-hand advice to forget and slumber. So with a smiling face he answered questions as if the matter in hand was of no immediate importance.
"Father, was Jesus so very good?" Cyrus began.
"Yes, indeed! The best of men!"
"He wasn't better than you, I bet."
"Indeed he was, Cyrus; very, very much better."
"Ho!" said the boy; "I don't believe it."
Dr. Alton explained, in few words, certain important differences between Our Savior and other men. Cyrus listened, and understood; then inquired: