"Of course it is," replied the girl confidently. "And I want to be a Christian, too—just like him and like you, too, auntie," she added tactfully.
That night Venna was not home to dinner, so John Hastings and his sister sat alone in the cosy dining-room.
John Hastings was a rich man, and his home was one of the best on Fifth Avenue, New York. However, both he and his sister loved simplicity, and their city house as well as their country villa had no excess luxury, and spelled "Home" in every detail.
As they sat at this evening meal, the bright burning logs of the open fire-place lit up his strong, handsome features.
He smiled into the gentle, blue eyes of his sister.
"John," she said thoughtfully, "our little girl will be fourteen soon."
"Is it possible, Emily? My baby fourteen! Well, we must invite every mother's boy and girl we know and give her a dandy party!"
"Yes, of course, we'll do that. She's planning it already. But that's not what I'm thinking about."
"No? What then?" His keen, gray eyes looked surprised.
"It's just this, John. I've been thinking a great deal today about Venna's joining the Church. You know she's going to be a decided belle—her beauty, talent"—