"Tryin' ain't no use," said Karen. "If you want to be one of the Lord's people, you've only to knock, and it shall be opened to you."
"Did you never know that fail?"
"I never tried it but once — it didn't fail me then," said the old woman. "The Lord keeps his promises. — I tried it a good while — it don't do to stop knockin'."
"But I must — one must try to do something — I must try to do my duty," said Elizabeth.
"Surely!" said Karen, facing round upon her again, "but you can't help that. Do you s'pose you can love Jesus Christ, and not love to please him? 'Tain't in natur' — you can't help it."
"But suppose I don't love him, Karen?" said Elizabeth, her voice choking as she said it. "I don't know him yet — I don't know him enough to love him."
There was a little pause; and then without looking at her, Karen said in her trembling voice, a little more trembling than it was,
"I don't know, Miss 'Lizabeth — 'To them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name!' — I heard a man preach that once."
The tears rushed in full measure to Elizabeth's eyes. She stood, not heeding Karen nor anything else, and the thick veil of tears hiding everything from her sight. It was a moment of strong joy; for she knew she believed in him! She was, or she would be, one of 'his people.' Her strong pillar of assurance she clasped again, and leaned her heart upon, with unspeakable rest.
She stood, till the water had cleared itself from her eyes; and then she was turning into the house, but turned back again, and went close up to the old black woman.