"Don't he take care of everybody?"
"Yes, in one sort of way," said Fleda; "but then it is only his children that he has promised to keep from everything that will hurt them."
"I don't see how that promise is kept, Elfie. I think those who call themselves so meet with as many troubles as the rest of the world, and perhaps more."
"Yes," said Fleda, quickly, "they have troubles, but then God wont let the troubles do them any harm."
A subtle evasion, thought Mr. Carleton. "Where did you learn that, Elfie?"
"The Bible says so," said Fleda.
"Well, how do you know it from that?" said Mr. Carleton, impelled, he hardly knew whether by his bad or his good angel, to carry on the conversation.
"Why," said Fleda, looking as if it were a very simple question, and Mr. Carleton were catechising her, "you know, Mr. Carleton, the Bible was written by men who were taught by God exactly what to say, so there could be nothing in it that is not true."
"How do you know those men were so taught?"
"The Bible says so."