"Well,mychild,"repliedtheoldgentleman,withasmile."I'vebroughthereaheartfulloftroubleandwickednessmanyatime,soyouneednotfearhurtingthegarden."
　　"ButIfearIshallpainandshockyou."
　　"Ihopeyouwill.I'mgoingtofeelwithandforyou.What'sthegoodofmysittingherelikeapost?"
　　"Well,"saidIda,desperately,"Ipromisedtotellyoueverything,andIwill.IfthereisanychanceformeI'llthenknowit,foryouwillnotdeceiveme.Somehow,whatIamandwhatIhavetosayseemedinsuchsadcontrastwithyouandyourgardenthatIbecameafraid.Youaskedaboutmyparents.Myfatherisaveryunhappyman.Heseemstohavelosthopeandcourage.InowbegintoseethatIhavebeenchieflytoblameforthis.Idonothingforhiscomfort.Indeed,IhavebeensooccupiedwithmyselfandmyownpleasurethatIhavegivenhimlittlethought.Hedoesnotspendmuchofhistimeathome,andwhenIsawhimhewasalwaystired,sad,andmoody.Heseemedtopossessnothingthatcouldministertomyprideandpleasuresavemoney,andItookthatfreely,withscarcelyeventhanksinreturn.
　　"Idon'tliketospeakagainstmymother,buttruthcompelsmetoaddthatsheactsmuchinthesameway.Idon'tthinkshelovespapa.Perhapsourtreatmentisthechiefreasonwhylife,seemingly,hasbecometohimaburden.Whenhe'snotbusyinheofficehedrinks,anddrinks,andIfearitisonlytoforgethistrouble.
　　Onceortwicethissummerhehaslookedlikeaman,andappearedcapableofthrowingoffthisdestroyinghabit,andthenbymywretchedfollyImadehimdoworsethanever,"andsheburstintoaremorsefulpassionoftears.
　　"That'sright,mychild,"saidMr.Eltinge,takingoffhisspectaclesthathemightwipehissympatheticeyes;"youwereverymuchtoblame.Thankgod,therearenoPhariseesinthisgarden.
　　Godblessyou;goon."
　　"ThisthatI'vetoldyouaboutmyfatheroughttobemychieftrouble,butitisn't,"falteredIda."Ifearyouwon'tunderstandmeverywellnow,andyoucertainlywillneverbeabletounderstandhowIcouldbetemptedtodosomethingattheverythoughtofwhichInowshudder."
　　"Nomatter;myMastercanunderstanditallifIcan't.He'slistening,too,remember."
　　"Itfrightensmetothinkso,"saidIda,inanawed,tremblingtone.
　　"That'sbecauseyoudon'tknowhim.Ifyouwereseverelywounded,wouldyoubefrightenedtoknowthatagoodphysicianwasrightathandtohealyou?"
　　"Butisn'tGodtooinfiniteandfarawaytolistentolistentothestoryofmyweaknessandfolly?Idarenotthinkofhim.Mydifficultyisjustthis——heISGod,andwhatamI?"
　　"Oneofhislittlechildren,mydear.Yes,heisinfinite,butnotfaraway.Intheworstofmyweaknessandfollyhelistenedpatiently,andhelpedmeoutofmytrouble.Howareyougoingtogetoverthisfact?Hehaslistenedtoandhelpedmultitudesofothersineverykindoftroubleandwrong.Howareyougoingtogetoverthesefacts?"
　　Idaslowlywipedhereyes.Herfacegrewverypale,andshelookedatMr.Eltingesteadilyandearnestly,asiftogatherfromhisexpressionandmanner,aswellaswords,thepreciseeffectofherconfession.
　　"Mr.Eltinge,"shesaid,"atthistimeyesterdayIdidnotexpecttobealiveto-day.Iexpectedtobedead,andbymyownhand.
　　WillGodforgivesuchwickedness?"
　　"Dead!"exclaimedtheoldgentleman,startingup.
　　"Yes,"saidIda,growingstillpalerandtremblingwithapprehension,butstilllookingfixedlyatMr.Eltingeasifshewouldlearnfromhisfacewhethershecouldhopeormustdespairbecauseofherintendedcrime.
　　"Andwhatchangedyourawfulpurpose,mychild?"hesaid,verygravely.
　　"Yourwordsattheprayer-meetinglastnight."
　　Theoldgentlemanremovedhishatandreverentlybowedhishead.
　　"OGod,"hemurmured,"thouhastbeenmercifultomeallmydays;
　　Ithanktheeforthiscrowningmercy."
　　"ButwillGodbemercifultoME?"criedIda,inatoneofsharpagony.
　　Theoldmancametoheside,andplacinghishandsonherheadspokewithalmosttheauthorityandsolemnityofoneofGod'sancientprophets.
　　"Yes,mychild,yes,hewillbemercifuluntoyou——hewillforgiveyou.Butinyourdeepneedyourequiremorethantheassuranceofapoorsinfulmortallikeyourself.ListentoGod'sownword:
　　'ThussaiththehighandloftyOnethatinhabitetheternity,whosenameisHoly:Idwellinthehighandholyplace,withhimalsothatisofacontriteandhumblespirit,torevivethespiritofthehumble,andtorevivetheheartofthecontriteones.'
　　"'Likeasafatherpitiethhischildren,sotheLordpitieththemthatfearhim.'
　　"'Ifweconfessoursinsheisfaithfulandjusttoforgiveusoursins;andthebloodofJesusChrist,hisSon,cleansethusfromallsin.'Godanswersyourquestionhimself,mychild."
　　"Oh,mayHeblessyouforyourkindnesstome!Ithassavedmefromdespairanddeath,"sobbedIda,buryingherfaceinherhands,andgivingwaytothenaturalexpressionoffeelingthateverrelievesaheartthathaslongbeenoverburdened.
　　ForafewmomentsMr.Eltingesaidnothing,butgentlystrokedthebowedheadashemightcaressadaughterofhisown.Atlastheasked,withavoicethatwasbrokenfromsympathywithheremotion,"HowaboutmyMaster,whosekindprovidencehasbroughtallthisabout?"
　　Idagraduallybecamemorequiet,andassoonasshecouldtrustherselftospeakshelifterherheadandanswered:
　　"Mr.Eltinge,IthinkIcanlearntoloveGodasyouportrayhimtome.ButinmyimperfectionandwickednessIhavenotdaredtothinkofhimtillIcamehere."
　　"Now,isn'tthatjustlikethedevil'swork!"exclaimedMr.Eltinge.
　　"ItwasourimperfectionandwickednessthatbroughtChristtoourrescue,andyetyouhavebeenmadetobelievethatyourchiefclaimuponourDivineFriendisahopelessbarrieragainstyou!"
　　"Mr.Eltinge,"saidIda,slowly,asifsheweretryingtobesurethateachwordexpressedherthought,"itwasthatword,FRIEND,asyouuseditlastnight,thatcaughtmyearandrevivedmyhopes.
　　Inowbelievethatifyouhadspokenonlyofdutyortruth,orevenofGodintheordinaryway,Ishouldnowbe"——sheburiedherfaceinherhandsandshuddered——"Ishouldnotbeinthissunnygardenwiththememorythatyourhandshaverestedonmyhandsinblessing.
　　IfIamtolive,Ishallneed,aboveallthings,afriend,andaverypatientandhelpfulone,orelsemyburdenwillbeheavierthanIcancarry.Ihavetoldyouaboutmyparents,andyouthusknowwhatImustlookforwardtoinmyownhome.Butsuchismyweaknessandfolly,Ihaveafarworsetroublethanthat.Youmaysmileatitandthinkthattimewillbringspeedyrelief.Perhapsitwill——Ihopeso.IfeelthatIknowsolittleaboutmyselfandeverythingelsethatIcanneverbesureofanythingagain.Mr.
　　Eltinge,Ihavebeensounfortunateastogivemywholeheart'slovetoamanwhodespisesme.Atfirstheseemedsomewhatattracted,buthesoondiscoveredhowimperfectandignorantIwas,andcoldlywithdrew.Heisnowpayinghisaddresses,Ibelieve,toanotherlady,andImustadmitthatsheisalovelygirl,andeverywayworthyofhim.Ithinkshewillreturnhisregard,ifshedoesnotalready.Butwhethershedoesornotcannotmatter,forheissofarmysuperiorineveryrespectthathewouldneverthinkofmeagain.Inordertohidemyfoolish,hopelesspassion,IreceivedattentionsfromanothermanthatIdetested,andwhohassinceprovedhimselfanuttervillain,butitsohappenedthatmynamebecamesocloselyassociatedwiththislowfellow,thatwhenmyheartwasbreakingforanotherreason,allthoughtthatitwasbecauseIwasinfatuatedwithamanIloathed.EvenMr.VanBergthoughtso,andIintendedtocompelhimtorespectme,oratleasttothinkbetterofme,evenifIhadtodietocarryoutmypurpose.Iwasdesperateandblindwithdisappointmentanddespair.Toastrongman,Isuppose,thesethingsdonotcountsogreatly,butI'minclinedtothinkwhatwithuspoorwomenourheart-lifeiseverything.I
　　fairlyshiveratthethoughtofthefuture.HowcanIcarrythisheavyburden,yearafteryear?Oh,howcanIbearit?HowcanI
　　bearit?"andhereyesbecamefullofdesperatetroubleagain,attheprospectbeforeher.
　　"Well,mydear,"saidMr.Eltingeinbrokentones,"myheartgoesouttoyouinsympathyasifyouweremyowndaughter,butoldJamesEltingecandobutlittletowardscuringyourdeeptroubles."
　　"Idonothopetobecured,"saidIda,despondently,"butIwouldbeverygladifIcouldthinkmylifewouldnotbeaburdentomyselfandothers."
　　Mr.Eltingeponderedafewmoments,andthenbrightenedup,asifapleasantthoughthadstruckhim.
　　"Whatdoyouthinkofthispear-treeagainstwhichI'mleaning?"
　　heasked."YourememberIsaiditowedmeagoodturn,andperhapsIcangetmybestfruitfromitto-day."
　　"Ithinkitisaprettytree,"saidIda,wonderingly;"andnowI
　　noticethattherearesomefinepearsonit."
　　"Yes,andtheyareaboutripe.Letusseeifwecan'treversetheoldstorywithwhichtheBiblecommences.Themanshalltemptthewomanthistime,andthisshallbeatreeoftheknowledgeofgood,notofevil.Poorchild,youknowenoughaboutthatalready;"
　　andtheoldgentlemanclimbeduponhischair,andwithhiscaneloosenedalargeyellowpearwithacrimsonblushonitssunnyside.
　　"Takemyhatandcatchit,"hehadsaidtoIda;andshedidso.
　　"Now,I'vemadeyouanaccomplicealready,andsoyoumayaswelleatthepearwhileItellyouabitofhistoryconcerningthistree.Itmayhelpmetosuggestsomeveryencouragingtruths."
　　ButIdaheldherpearandlookedwistfullyatthespeaker.Herheartwasstilltoosoretoenterintothehalf-playfulmannerbywhichhesoughttogivealessgloomycasttoherthoughts.
　　"Someyearsago,"saidMr.Eltinge,resuminghisseat,"wehadanightofdarknessandviolentstormlikethatthroughwhichyou,poorchild,havejustpassed.Thegardenfencewasblowndown,andsomestraycattlegotinandmadesadhavoc.Thispear-treewasalittlethingthen,andwhenIcameoutinthemorningitwasinabadplight,Icantellyou.Thewindhadsnappedoffthetop,anditlaywitheringontheground.Worsethanthis,oneofthecattlehadsteppedonit,bruisingitseverely,andhalfbreakingitoffneartheroot.Idon'tknowwhichoftheyoungmenyouhavenamedthisunrulybeasttypifies——bothof'em,I'minclinedtothink."
　　HereIdashookherheadinprotestagainstVanBergbeingclassedwithSibley,andatthesametimecouldnotforbeartheglimmerofasmileattheoldman'shomelyimagery.
　　"Well,accordingtomycreed,"continuedMr.Eltinge,"'whilethere'slifethere'shope,'soIliftedupthepoor,prostratelittletree,andtiedittoastoutstake.ThenIgotgraftingwaxandcoveredthebruisesandbrokenplaces,andfinallytiedallupascarefullyasIusedtomyboys'fingerswhenthecutthem,sixtyoddyearsago.Andnowmark,mychild;IhaddoneallthatIcoulddo.I
　　couldn'tmakethewoundshealorevenanewtwigstart;andyethereisastatelyyoungtreebeginningtobeardeliciousfruit.
　　Naturetookmysorry-lookinglittlecaseinhand,andslowlyatfirst,butbyandbywithincreasedvigorandrapidity,shedevelopedwhatyousee.Ihaveanaffectionforthistree,andliketoleanagainstit,andsometimesIhalffancyitlikestohaveme."
　　"Ishouldthinkitoughtto,"saidIda,heartily,withtearsinhereyes,butasmileonherlips.
　　"Well,now,mychild,togoonwithmyparable,whatnaturewastothispear-tree,nature'sGodmustbetoyou.Wecannotfindinnaturenorinthehappiesthumanlovethatwhichcansatisfyourdeepspiritualneed;butwecanfindallinhimwhocamefromheaveninourbehalf.JesusChrististhepatient,helpfulFriendyouneed.Hebringsmorethanjoy——eventhepeaceandrestthatfollowfulltrustinOnepledgedtotakecareofusandmakeeverythingturnoutforthebest.Hesaysofthosewhocometohim,'Igiveuntothemeternallife,andtheyshallneverperish.'Ifyouwilltakethislifefromhimitwillneverbeaburdentoyou,anditwillalwaysbeablessingtoothers."
　　"IfearIdon'tquiteunderstandyou,Mr.Eltinge.Whatisthis'eternallife'——thisnew,addedlifewhichyousayChristoffers,andwhichI'msureI'dbeverygladtotakeifIknewhow?"
　　"LetJesusansweryouhimself,mychild.Hesaidplainly:'Thisislifeeternal,thattheymightknowtheetheonlytrueGod,andJesusChrist,whomthouhassent.'PerhapsIcanmakeourLord'swordsclearerfromyourownexperience,ifyouwillpermitmetorefertoyourfeelingstowardthemanwho,whetherworthyornothaswonyourlove.Supposeheisallyouimagine,andthathelavishedonyouthebesttreasuresofhisheart;wouldnotlifeathissideseemlifeinverytruth,andlifeelsewherebutmereexistence?"
　　"Yes,"saidIda,withbowedheadandpalecheeks."Ibegintounderstandyounow.ItseemstomethatIcouldwelcomesorrow,poverty,andevendeath,athisside,andcallliferichandfull.
　　Butasitis——oh,Mr.Eltinge,teachmeyourfaith,lestIgivewaytodespairagain!"
　　"Poorchild!poorchild!Don'tmywhitehairsteachyouthatI
　　amonthethresholdofthehomeinwhich'Godshallwipeawayalltears'?"
　　"Ienvyyou,"criedIda,almostpassionately."ThinkhowfarIamfromthathome!"
　　"Well,youarenotfarfromtheDivineFriendwholeadstothathome,andwhenyoucometoKNOWhimandhisloveyourlifewillbegintogrowricherandsweeterandfullertoalleternity.Thisiseternallife.It'sknowtheGodwholovesusandwhomwehavelearnedtolove.It'snotlivingonandonforeverinabeautifulheaven,anymorethantheearthlylifeyoucraveislivingonandoninapleasanthomesuchasthemanofyourheartmightprovide.
　　Thetruelifeisthepresenceofthelovedonehimself,andallthatheistousandallthathecandoforus;andifamortalandfinitecreatureseemstoyousoabletoimpartlife,howinfinitelymoreblessedwillthelifeeventuallybewhichcomesfromaGodofboundlesspowerandboundlesslove!"
　　"Alas,Mr.Eltinge,Godseemstooboundless."
　　"DidGodseemtooboundlesstothelittlechildrenwhomhetookinhisarmsandblessed?"
　　"OhthatIhadbeenoneofthem!"saidIda,withasuddenrushoftears.
　　"Come,mydearyoungfriend,donotexpecttoomuchofyourselfto-day.Youcannottakeinallthistruthatonce,anymorethanthisyoungpeartreecouldtakeallthedewandsunshine,coldandheatforautumnfrostsareneededaswellasspringshowers
　　thatnaturehadinstoreforit,butitslifewasassuredfromthemomentitwasabletoreceivenature'srestoringinfluences.Sowithgreatercertaintyahappy,usefullifeisassuredtoyouassoonasyoureceiveJesusChristasyourSaviour,Teacher,andLife-giver.'Asmanyasreceivedhim,tothemgavehepowertobecomethesonsofGod,'andIassureyoutheGreatKingwilllookafterhischildrenrightroyally.Butyoudon'tknowhimverywellyet,andsocannothavethelifewhichflowsfromhisfulnessoflife.Supposeyoucomeheremornings,andwe'llreadtogetherthestoryofJesus,justasitistoldintheNewTestament,andIdon'tbelieveitwillbelongbeforeyouwillsaytomethatmyFriendisyoursalso.Now,comeuptothehouseandI'llintroduceyoutomysister.Youthinkmeasaint;butI'llshowyouwhatahumanappetiteIhave."
　　"Ihearabrooknearby,"saidIda;"mayInotgotoitandbathemyface?"
　　"Yes,dowhatyoulikebestwhilehere.Wouldyouratherbatheinthebrookthanatthehouse?"
　　"Yes,indeed.Everythingseemssacredhere,andIcanimaginethebrookyondertobearillfromtheJordan."
　　"Don'tbesuperstitiousandsentimental,"saidtheoldgentleman,shakinghisheadgravely."ThelifeofaChristianmeanshonest,patientwork,andChrist'sbloodalonecanwashustillwearewhiterthansnow."
　　Ida'sfacegrewearnestandnobleasshesteppedtothesymbolictreeandplacedherhandononeofitslowerbranches.
　　"Mr.Eltinge,"shesaidgentlyandgravely,"asthisbroken,woundedtreereceivedallthehelpnaturegaveit,soI,morebruisedandbroken,willtrytoreceiveallthehelpChristwillgivemetobearmyburdenandlivealifepleasingtohim.Ishallbeverygladindeedtocomehereandlearntoknowhimbetterunderyourmostkindandfaithfulteaching,andasIlearn,Iwilltrytodomybest;butoh,Mr.Eltinge,youcan'trealizehowveryweakandimperfect——howignorantandfulloffaultsIam!"
　　"Justsothepoorlittletreemighthavespokenifithadhadavoice.IndeedIthoughtitWOULDdie.Butnowlookatthefruitoveryourhead.Youshalltakesomeofithome,andeverypearwillbeasermontoyou——ajuicyone,too.Ifyouwilldoasyousay,mychild,allwillbewell."
　　Shebathedhertear-stainedfaceinthebrook,andcamebacklookingfairerthananyflowerinthegarden.Thentheywentuptotheold-fashionedhouse.
　　"Mydear,thisismysister,MissEltinge,"hesaid,presentingawhite-hairedoldlady,whostillwasevidentlymuchyoungerthanherbrother.Then,turningsuddenlyaroundincomicaldismay,hesaid,"Why,blessyou,mychild,Idon'tknowyourname!Well,well,nomatter!IknowYOU.TherearepeoplewhosenamesI'veknownhalfmylife,andyetIdon'tknowthemanddon'ttrust'em."
　　"MynameisIdaMayhew,"saidtheyounggirlsimply."IheardMr.
　　Eltingespeakattheprayer-meetinglastnightinsuchawaythatIwantedtoseehimandaskhishelpandadvice,andhehasbeenvery,verykindtome.Hecantellyouall."
　　"Yes,ifhechooses,"saidtheoldgentlemanwithalaugh."Sisterknowsmetoowellinmycharacteroffatherconfessortoexpectmetotelleverything."
　　Theymadeherathomeasthesimpleandwell-bredonlycando.
　　AfterdinnerMissEltingetriedtoentertainherforawhile,butatlastsaid,withappreciativetact:
　　"Mydear,Ithinkyouwillbestenjoyyourselfifyouarelefttorangetheoldhouseandplaceatwill.Aftermybrotherhasrestedhewilljoinyouagain."
　　Idawasgladtobealone.Shehadmadeapromiseoffar-reachingandvitalimportthatmorning.Lifewastakingonnewaspectsthatweresounfamiliarthatshewasbewildered.Shewentbacktothegarden,and,takingMr.Eltinge'sseat,leanedagainsttheemblematicpear-tree,whichshecuriouslybegantoassociatewithherself,andforwhichshewasalreadyconsciousofsomethinglikeaffection.
　　"Oh,"shesighed,"ifmylifewouldonlycometoaboundwithdeedscorrespondingtothefruitthatisbendingtheseboughsaboveme,itcouldnotbeaburden,thoughtitmightbeverysadandlonely.
　　InowbegintounderstandJennieBurton——herconstanteffortinbehalfofothers.ButHEwillcomfortherbeforelong.Herdarkdaysarenearlyover.Nomatterhowdeeporgreathertroublesmayhavebeen,theymustvanishinthesunshineofsuchaman'slove.
　　Iwonderifhehasspokenplainlyyet——butwhatneedofwords?
　　Hiseyesandmannerhavetoldherallahundredtimes.Iwishshecouldbemyfriend,IwishIcouldspeaktoherplainly,forsheissokindandwise;butImustshunher,orelseshe'lldiscoverthesecretthatI'dhidefromherevenmorecarefullythanfromhim,ifsuchathingwerepossible.Iwonderiftheyevermetbeforetheycamehere.Ineversawonehumanbeinglookatanotherasshesometimeslooksathim.Ibelievethatdeepinherheartshefairlyidolizeshim,althoughhersingularself-controlenablesher,asageneralthing,totreathimwiththeeaseandfranknessofafriend.Well,shemaylovehimmoredeeplythanIdobecausepossessingadeepernature.IcanbutgiveallIhave.ButIthinkmylovewouldbelikethelittlebrookoverthere.It'snotverydeeporobtrusive,butMr.Eltingesaysithasneverfailed.Well,well!thesearenotthethoughtsforme,thoughhowIcanhelpthemIcannottell.Iwilltrytowinalittlerespectfromhimbeforewepart,andthenmylife,likethispear-tree,mustbefullofgooddeedsforthosewhohavethebestrighttoreceivethem,"andtakingasmallpen-knifefromherpocketshemountedthechair,andcarvedwithinthetwolowerbrancheswheretheycouldnoteasilybediscoveredthewords,"IdaMayhew."
　　ChapterXLII.TheCorner-StoneofCharacter.
　　AfterthecharacteristicactbywhichIdahadidentifiedthetree——oncesobruisedandbroken——withherself,shesatdownagainatitsfootandthoughtlonganddeeply.Thedeephushandquietofthequaintoldgardenwasjustwhatsheneededafterthedeliriumofherpassionanddespair.Herpulsebegantogrowmoreeven,andherbeautifulfacesweetandnoblewiththebetterthoughtsshenowwasentertaining.Asshesatthereleaningherheadagainsttheboleofthetree,theshadowsoftheleavesabovedeepeningandbrighteningacrossherpalefeatures,andherlarge,darkeyesoftengrowinghumidwithsympathywithherthoughts,shemadeasfairapictureascouldEveherself,wereshedreamingoverherlostgarden-home.Atlastshesaidslowly:
　　"IwonderifitwillbepossibleforaDivinelovegraduallytosupplantahumanlove?'Whomtoknowiseternallife.'Thishopeseemstobemyonlyhope——myonlyremedy,myonechance.Imustsoongobacktothecity,whereIcannotseegoodoldMr.Eltinge,whereIwillnolongerhavetheexcitementofoccasionallymeetingMr.VanBerg,whereIshallbefacttofacewithonlythehard,prosaicdifficultiesthatwillaboundintheworldwithout,butespeciallyinmyownhome.IplainlyforeseethatIshallbecomebitter,selfish,andrecklessagain,unlessIfindsuchaFriendasMr.Eltingedescribes,whowillgivemedailyandpositivehelp;
　　ameredecorous,formalreligionwillbeofnomoreusetomethanpicturesofbreadtothefamishing.Imusthaveastrong,patientFriendwhowillseemethroughmytroubles,orI'mlost.ImayevengrowasdesperateandwickedasIhavebeenagain,"andsheburiedherfaceinherhandsandfairlytrembledwithapprehension.
　　"Come,mychild,cheerup!Allwillendwellyet.Takeanoldman'swordforit.I'velivedthroughseveraltroublesthatIthoughtwouldfinishme,thankstothegoodLord,andhereIamnow,safeandsoundandinthepossessionoftwogoodhomes——thisoneandthebetteroneovertherivertheysayissodark.Idon'tbelieveit'smuchmoreofarivertotheChristianthanyonderlittlebrook;
　　butIcantellyou,mychild,we'llfindawonderfuldifferencebetweenthetwoshores."
　　Idafoundthattheoldgentlemanhadjoinedherunperceived,andshetoldhimofherfears.
　　"Now,don'tworry,"heanswered,"aboutwhatwillhappenwhenyougobacktothecity.Christhimselfhassaid:'Sufficientuntothedayistheevilthereof.'Yourwholedutyistodoyourbestnow,andhe'lltakecareofthefuture.Hedidnotcallhimselfthe'GoodShepherd'fornothing,asIandmillionsofothers,knowfromexperience.He'llseeyouoverallthehardplaces,ifyouaskhimto,andjustfollowpatiently.Youmaynotbeabletoseethewayorknowwhereheisleadingyou,anymorethanthesheep;
　　butthepath,howeverflintyandthorny,willendinthefold.Ofthatbeassured."Andhegaveheroneortwosadchaptersfromhisownlifeofwhichhecouldnowspeakcalmlyandunderstandingly.
　　Astheywereabouttopart,Idasaid:"Mr.Eltinge,I'msoignorantthatIhavenottheremotestideahowtocommencethisChristianlife.Igreatlywishtoformacharacterworthyofrespect,butIdon'tknowhowtosetaboutit."
　　"Commencebylivingsimpleandtrue,mydear.Truthfulnessisthecorner-stoneofthecharacterthatmenmostrespectandGodwillhonor.Noneofuscanbeperfect,butwecanallbehonest,andpretendtobenobetterthanweare.Justsimplyfollowyourconscience,praydailyforlightandguidance,anddothebestyoucan.Liveuptothelightasyougetit,andrememberthegoodLordwillbeaspatientwithyouasamotherwithherbabythatisjustlearningtowalk.Betruthfulandsincereasyouhavebeenwithmeto-day,andallwillbewell."
　　Thenhebroughtastep-ladder,andfilledalittlebasketwithpears.
　　"They'llripennicelyinyourdrawer,"hesaid,"andIshouldn'twonderifyoufound'emkindofnourishingtoyoursoulaswellasbody,nowyouknowhowtheygrew."
　　WithapromisetocomeonthemorrowIdadroveawaymorecheeredandcomfortedthanshehadthoughtitpossibleevertobeagain.
　　Butassheapproachedthehotelpiazza,andsawtheartisttalkingwithJennieBurton,sheexperiencedasinkingofheartthattaughtherhowdifficultherpathmustbeatbest.