esus, so I want to be
baptized."

"It isn't a sign of anything good," said Norton. "Lots of people are
baptized, that aren't anything else, I know. Lots of them, Matilda.
That don't change them."

"No, that don't change them, Norton; but when they _are_ changed, then
the Bible says they must be baptized."

"What for?"

"It is just telling everybody what they believe, and what they are.
It's a _sign_."

"Then when you are baptized, as you mean to be, that will be telling
everybody what _you_ believe and what you are?"

"Yes."

"It would not tell me," said Norton, "be-cause I should not understand
the sign. I wish you would tell me now in words, Matilda."

"I don't know if I can, but I'll try. You know water makes things
clean, Norton?"

"Sometimes."

"Well, if it is used it does," said Matilda. "The water is a sign that
I believe the Lord Jesus will take away my sins, and make me clean and
good, if I trust Him; that He will wash my heart, and that He has begun
to do it. And it will be a sign that I am His servant, because that is
what He has commanded His servants."

"What?"

"That; to be baptized, and join the church."

"Matilda, a great many people are baptized, and keep all their sins
just the same."

"Oh, but those are make-believe people."

"No, they are not; they are real people."

"I mean, they are make-believe Christians."

"How do you know but you are?"

"I _think_ I know," said Matilda, looking down.

"But other people won't know. Your being baptized will not mean
anything to them, only that somebody has coaxed you into it."

"It will mean all that, Norton; and if I am true they will _see_ it
means all that."

"They might see it all the same without your being baptized. What
difference would that make?"

"It is _obedience_," said Matilda, firmly. "And not to do it would be
disobedience. And it is profession of faith; and not to do it, would be
to say that I don't believe."

Norton looked amused, and pleased, and a little puzzled.

"You have not told me anything about you, after all," he said; "for I
knew it all before."

"How did you know it?"

"Not this about your being baptized, you know, but about _you_."

"What about me?"

"I say, Matilda, when will you come and play croquet again?"

"I don't know. But, O Norton, I must go now. I forgot all about it. And
there was something else I wanted to say. I wish you would be a servant
of Jesus too?"

Matilda gave this utter