"Yes, ma'am—very well."
"I suppose I have thought of it five hundred and fifty times," Miss
Dilly went on. "What were the words, Faith? do you know 'em?"
Faith did not move, only repeated, and if they had been literal diamonds every word would not have seemed so precious to her,—
"'They shall be mine, saith the Lord, in the day when I make up my jewels.'"
"That's it!" said Miss Dilly. "Now go on, can you, Faith, and tell me what it means."
"It is spoken of the people that fear the Lord, aunt Dilly—it goes on—
"'And I will spare them, as a man spareth his own on that serveth him. Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.'"
"Tell me more. Faith," said Miss Danforth presently in a subdued voice.
"I don't understand one thing about it from beginning to end."
In answer to which Faith turned, took a Bible, and as one did of old, preached unto her Jesus. It was very simple preaching. Faith told her aunt the story even very much as she had told it to Johnny Fax; and with the same sweet grave face and winning tongue which had drawn the children. As earnest as they, Miss Dilly listened and looked, and brought her strong sense to bear upon the words. Not with the same ease of understanding. She said little, excepting to bid Faith 'go on,'—in a tone that told the quest she was upon—unsatisfied yet.
Faith went on, but preferred to let the Bible words speak instead of her own. It brought Mrs. Custers to mind again, though this time Faith's joy of heart made her words ring as from a sweet silver trumpet. So they fell on the sick woman's ear; nor was there stay or interruption till Faith heard the hall door close below. She shut the book then; then her arm came round Miss Danforth's neck, and her kisses spoke well enough the glad sympathy and encouragement Faith spoke in no other way. One earnest return answered her.