"Oh!" she said to herself, with great intensity of feeling, "if people only would influence each other just as much as they could, and just as high as they could, what a wonderful thing this living would be!"
It was for this reason among others that she had selected from her family group, hanging in her room, this beautiful young sister, and sacrificed her to hang between the windows in the front room. There were other pictures, many of them selected with studied care, with an eye to their influence. Among others, there was a brilliant illuminated text worked in blues and browns, and the words were such as are rarely found in mottoes. In the centre was a great gilt-edged Bible, and circling over it: "These are written that ye might believe on the Son of God." Then underneath, in smaller letters: "And that believing, ye might have life through his name."
"That is Estelle's work," his companion said. "Isn't it pretty?"
"I suppose so. I don't know anything about pretty things."
"Oh yes you do; you know perfectly well what you think is pretty. I venture to say that you know what you like, and what you dislike, as well as any person in this world."
He laughed, not ill pleased at this; and Louise, with no apparent connection, branched into another subject.
"By the way, where is that church social that was announced for Friday night? Far-away?"
"No; just on the other hill from us, about a mile, or a trifle more."
"Then we can walk, can't we? I'm a good walker, and if the evening is moonlight, I should think it would be the most pleasant way of going."
And now John nearly lost his balance on the wood-box, because of the suddenness with which he turned to bestow his astonished gaze on her.