"What?"
"The promise of Christ."
"My dear, you do not know what you are talking of. Life is in its spring with you."
"But I know the King's promise," said Lois.
"How do you know it?"
"I have tried it."
"But you have never had any occasion to try it, you heart-sound creature!" said Mrs. Barclay, with again a caressing, admiring touch of Lois's brow.
"O, but indeed I have. Not in need like yours—I have never touched that—I never felt like that; but in other need, as great and as terrible. And I know, and everybody else who has ever tried knows, that the Lord keeps his word."
"How have you tried?" Mrs. Barclay asked abstractedly.
"I needed the forgiveness of sin," said Lois, letting her voice fall a little, "and deliverance from it."