"Died for us! And what end was that to serve, Elfie?" said he, partly willing to hear the full statement of the matter, and partly willing to see how far her intelligence could give it.
"Because we are sinners," said Fleda, "and God has said that sinners shall die."
"Then how can he keep his word, and forgive at all?"
"Because Christ has died for us," said Fleda, eagerly "instead of us."
"Do you understand the justice of letting one take the place of others?"
"He was willing, Mr. Carleton," said Fleda, with a singular wistful expression, that touched him.
"Still, Elfie," said he, after a minute's silence, "how could the ends of justice be answered by the death of one man in the place of millions?"
"No, Mr. Carleton, but He was God as well as man," Fleda said, with a sparkle in her eye which perhaps delayed her companion's rejoinder.
"What should induce him, Elfie," he said, gently, "to do such a thing for people who had displeased him?"
"Because he loved us, Mr. Carleton."