Josephine related the history of the little tract to the good pastor's wife, who advised her to meet Mark on his return from the field, and to speak to him again of what he had read.
"Is it you, sister?" said Mark, in a happy tone of voice, as soon as he saw her. "It is very good of you to meet me."
Josephine, who never received such a welcome from him before, was quite delighted, and going up to him, she said, affectionately, "I want very much to talk with you again about Andrew and Julia."
Mark.—(Seriously.)—"And so do I. I should like very much to resemble them."
Josephine.—(Quickly.)—"Do you mean what you say, Mark? Have you thought of it again since yesterday?"
Mark.—(Still serious.)—"I have thought so much about it, that I am determined to change my habits. Yes, Josephine, I think you are right, and that, after all, religion is better than ridicule."
The conversation continued as it had commenced, and when Mark returned home, he went up and kissed his mother, who was just laying the table for dinner.
"What's the matter?" said she, with some surprise; "you seem in very good spirits, today."
"Nothing is the matter, good mother, but that I wish to alter my conduct," replied Mark, seriously.
"To alter your conduct," cried little Peter, as he looked up in his brother's face, and began to titter.