"I don't believe it," said Norton.
"Where?" asked David.
"I can't tell,—but I know it's there. If I had that little reference Bible, Davy;—it's up in your room—"
"Yes, I can get it," said David; "but wouldn't a Concordance be better for you? I'll fetch one."
"What are you talking about, children?" said Mrs. Bartholomew, as David went out of the room.
"We have got into a knot, aunt Judith," said Norton. "Don't you get in, or we shall never get out."
"Do get in, mamma," urged Judy, "or David will be tied up. Matilda holding one end of the string, and Norton the other, between them they'll fix him."
"David is able to cut his own knots, or other people's," said Mrs. Bartholomew coolly. "What is all this about, David?"
David had come back in a minute with the Concordance, which he handed to Matilda. "It's a question of Scripture, mamma," he answered. Mrs. Bartholomew said "Oh!"—and turned away. But Mrs. Lloyd watched the group. Matilda was earnestly searching in the pages of the Concordance; David sat waiting, with a little curiosity; Norton with impatient defiance. Matilda was busy for some minutes with one page and another; then, "Here it is!" she said; and looked up. She saw that Mrs. Lloyd's attention was fixed, and that Mrs. Laval also was listening. She glanced at Norton, then met David's eyes; and then bent her head over her book and read.
"'Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.' And then again in the next chapter—'We are fools for Christ's sake.'"