“I should n't think likely,” remarked Sue, decisively, clicking her needles as one who could settle most spiritual problems in a jiffy. “I think the sliding kind is diff'rent from the climbing kind, and they don't make easy angels.”
A long pause followed this expression of opinion, this simple division of the human race, at the start, into sheep and goats. Then presently the untiring voice broke the stillness again.
“Nathan and Hetty slid back when they went away from here. Did we backslide when we left Fardie and Jack?”
“I'm not sure but that we did,” said poor Susanna.
“There's children-Shakers, and brother-and-sister Shakers, but no father-and-mother Shakers?”
“No; they think they can do just as much good in the world without being mothers and fathers.”
“Do you think so?”
“Ye-es, I believe I do.”
“Well, are you a truly Shaker, or can't you be till you wear a cap?”
“I'm not a Shaker yet, Sue.”