"I—I thought when first you came here that you were a Christian," said the boy timidly.
"I thought so too," sobbed Ruth, "but I suppose I was wrong. Everything goes wrong here, and that happy time is so far away."
"But if you have confessed to God, and have His forgiveness, the happiness will come again."
"Confess to Him? How could I? He is such a long way off now, and there is such a gulf between that I cannot pray to Him."
"Oh, Ruth; you are making a great mistake. You know that Jesus died on purpose to put away sin, to break down the wall, to bridge over the gulf. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. It is you that have changed, not Christ. Go to Him at once; it is of no use humbling yourself and confessing to others if you stop away from Him. He only can forgive and send peace."
"'Your sins have separated between you and your God,'" said Ruth solemnly.
"'The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin,'" replied her cousin.
"Ernest, you are a Christian!" said Ruth suddenly.
"Yes, I hope so," replied the boy, reddening as his shyness and self-consciousness returned.
"Why did you never talk to me before?" asked Ruth; "you might have helped me so much. I thought I was all alone and better than the rest."