'Oh no! I mean, people that are happy now and happy here, Barker.'
'I am sure and I don't know, Miss Esther; if it wouldn't be little children,—which is, them that is too young to know what the world is like. I do suppose they are happy.'
'Don't you know, the Bible says some other people are happy?'
'The Bible!'
Mrs. Barker stared, open-mouthed, at the face before her. Esther had sat down by the window, where the glow from the west was upon it, like a glory round the head of a young saint; and the evening sky was not more serene, nor reflected more surely a hidden light than did the beautiful eyes. Mrs. Barker gazed, and could not bring out another word.
'You read your Bible, don't you?'
'Yes 'm, in course; which it isn't very often; but in course I reads it.'
'Don't you know what it says about happy people?'
'In Paradise,' gasped the housekeeper.
'No, not in Paradise. Listen; let me tell you. "Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered."'