"There's a sight of people will tell you you're mad if you're only fervent."
The child did not know precisely what "fervent" meant, but she began to doubt Trenholme's positive knowledge on the subject. "Do you believe the end of the world's coming so soon?"
"Lor, child! what do I know but the world might go on a good bit after that? I can't tell from my Bible whether the Lord will take us who are looking for Him up to His glory for a while, or whether He'll appoint us a time of further trial while He's conquering the earth; but I do know it wouldn't matter much which, after we'd heard Him speak to each of us by name and seen His face." The sad woman looked positively happy while she spoke.
"Oh, Mrs. Martha, are you watching like that? But how can you all the time—you must sleep and work, you know?"
"Yes, child; but the heart can watch; and He knows we must sleep and work; and for that reason I'm not so sure but, if we're faithful, He might in mercy give us a word beforehand to let us know when to be expecting more particularly. I don't know, you know, child; I'm only saying what might be."
"But what makes you think so, Mrs. Martha?"
Winifred was quick-witted enough to perceive something withheld.
"There's things that it's not right for any one to know but those as will reverence them."
"Oh, I will, I will," said Winifred, clasping her hands.
"As I understand it, Mr. Cameron's had no assurance yet."