Then I said, "I think faith ought to have its turn."
"What is faith in this instance?"
"Waiting, I should think," I answered slowly.
"But waiting with a knowledge of—"
"Ah! I must teach you another parable, I see. When the seed is sown in the ground we have to wait for it to spring up; it has to grow, to grow underground quite a long while before it comes to the light. It is not good to uncover it before it naturally springs up."
"Can I be sure the seed is there?" he asked eagerly.
"Some seeds take longer than others too, don't they?" I answered evasively. "The annuals come up quite quickly, but perennials are much slower. I prefer perennials, don't you?"
"I will wait."
"The winter is such a good time for waiting," I remarked cheerfully.
"If faith be added to hope is the next step sure?" he questioned.