but he made it, watching for Dolly's answer
the while. It came without hesitation.

"Yes," she said. "I should believe you, if you told me so."

"Yet in that case you would follow me blindly."

"Yes."

"Seeing no light."

"Yes. But then I know you enough to know that you would not promise
what you would not do."

"Thank you. This is by way of illustration. You would not be afraid?"

"Not a bit. I see what you mean," said Dolly, colouring a little.

"Do you think there is anything friends can give one another, so
precious as such trust?"

"No--I suppose not."

"Is it wonderful, if the Lord wants it of His children?"

"No. O Mr. Shubrick, I am ashamed of myself! What is the reason that I
can give it to you, for instance, and not to Him? Is it just
wickedness?"

"It is rather, distance."

"Distance! Then how shall I get near?"

"Do you know what a question you are asking me? One of the grandest
that a creature can ask. It is the question of questions. For, to get
near, is to see the Lord's beauty; and to see Him is to love Him, and
to love with that absolute confidence. 'Thou wilt keep Him in perfect
peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.' And, 'This is life eternal, to
know thee.'"

"Then how, Mr. Shubrick?" said Dolly. "How is one to do?" She was
almost tearful in her earnestness. But he spoke, earnestly enough, yet
with a smile.

"There are two sides to the question. On your side, you must do what
you would do in any case where you wanted to cultivate a friendship.
How would that be?"

Dolly pondered. "I never put it so to myself," she said slowly, "and
yet I suppose it must be so. Why, in any such case I should try to see
a great deal of the person I wanted to make a friend of. I would be in
the person's company, hear him talk, or hear her talk, if it was a
woman; and talk to her. It would be the only way we could become known
to each other."

"Translate, now."

"Translate?" said Dolly. "You mean,"----

"Apply to the case in hand."

"You mean," said Dolly, "that to study the Bible is to hear the Lord
speak; and to pray, is to speak to Him."

"To study the Bible with a heart ready to obey all it finds--_that_ is
hearing the Lord speak; and if prayer is telling Him your thoughts and
wishes in your own language, that is speaking to Him."

"But it is speaking without an answer."

"I beg your pardon. It is speaking without an audible answer; that is
all."

"Then how does the answer come?"