"No, Sir."
"Sometimes he sees that if he lets them alone, his children will love some dear thing on the earth better than himself, and he knows they will not be happy if they do so; and then, because he loves them, he takes it away perhaps it is a dear mother, or a dear daughter or else he hinders their enjoyment of it, that they may remember him, and give their whole hearts to him. He wants their whole hearts, that he may bless them. Are you one of his children, Ellen?"
"No, Sir," said Ellen, with swimming eyes, but cast down to the ground.
"How do you know that you are not?"
"Because I do not love the Saviour."
"Do you not love him, Ellen?"
"I am afraid not, Sir."
"Why are you afraid not? What makes you think so?"
"Mamma said I could not love him at all, if I did not love him best; and, oh! Sir," said Ellen, weeping, "I do love Mamma a great deal better."
"You love your mother better than you do the Saviour?"