“Well, what would you wish for me?” asked Mr Sherwood, still smiling at her eagerness. “I dare say I should have no more trouble in this world if you could have your wish.”
Christie shook her head.
“I don’t think I ever wished that for you, and yet I have, too, in a way; for if that which I ask for you every day were to come to pass, you might have trouble, but it would never seem like trouble to you any more.”
“Well, I suppose that would answer every purpose of not having any more trouble, and you are very kind to wish it. But you say ‘ask’; so I suppose it is something which is in the giving of your Friend above?”
“Yes,” said Christie, softly; and then there was a pause.
“And what is it? Is it the ‘new heart and the right spirit’ we were reading about the other day? That seems to be the very best blessing that one can have, in your opinion. And do you really think I shall ever get it?”
“I hope you will,” she answered, eagerly. “I believe you will, if you only ask for it.”
“Ah, well, I don’t know. I have a fancy that your asking will be more to the purpose than mine.”
“I shall never forget to ask it for you. I have never forgotten it since—” she hesitated.
“Since when?” asked Mr Sherwood.