"What is it that troubles you so, dear aunt? let me at least give you my sympathy, if I can do nothing more."
Miss Prudence remained silent, but Ella ventured again to urge her to confide her trouble to her.
"Ella," she said at last, "I used to say—and I thought it too—that I was quite as good as any of my neighbours, and quite as likely to go to Heaven as any of those who made a profession of religion. I considered myself quite good, and deserving of salvation; but lately my views and feelings have changed, and I seem to myself to be a very great sinner, so hardened and so wicked that it frightens me to think of it; for I don't see how it is possible that such a vile wretch can be saved. I'm afraid I have sinned away my day of grace, and I shall go down to hell."
"Dear aunt Prudence, listen to what God says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.' 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.'"
"But not such sinners as I; remember how many years I have been turning a deaf ear to all his invitations; how often he has called, and I have refused. Oh! these words are constantly ringing in my ears: 'Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamities, I will mock when your fear cometh.' O Ella, I am sure those words are spoken to me," she added, with a shudder, covering her face with her hands.
"Dear aunt, he says, 'I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.'"
"It doesn't mean me," she replied, with a hopeless shake of the head.
"'Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' Dear aunt, those words are addressed to you as much as to any one."
Miss Clinton shook her head. "They might have been once, but not now, it is too late."