n; and if they don't see me they will never
think of me. Come, Christie."

She lifted Claude from his cushion and ran away with him, leaving
Christie to follow with the shawls and other things. The book was left
behind on the bench, and when the visitors were safe in the house, Mr
Sherwood could not resist the desire he felt to go down to see what it
was. As he passed the drawing-room door, Mrs Seaton looked out.

"If you are going into the garden, Charles, and should see Miss
Gertrude, tell her Mrs Jordan is here, and has asked for her."

"I dare say she won't thank me for the message," he said to himself, as
he picked up the book and took his way to the cedar walk. He smiled to
himself as he turned over the leaves.

"You are inquired for," he said. "Mrs Seaton bade me tell you that
Mrs Jordan is in the drawing-room with her daughters, and they have
asked for you."

"Oh, dear me! And I thought I was safe for this time! But I don't
think I will go. They'll forget all about me in a few minutes."

"Mrs Seaton wishes you to go, however," said Mr Sherwood, gravely.

Miss Gertrude shrugged her shoulders. They had more than once differed
as to the nature and extent of duty she owed to her step-mother. She
said nothing, however, but rose.

"I'm going too," said Clement. "Tudie, you must take me."

"Cousin Charles, carry me!" entreated Claude.

"No, Clement; you are not to come unless you are sent for. And I'll
come back directly."

Mr Sherwood took one turn in the garden, and came back to the cedar
walk in time to hear the end of Christie's story:

"And so, when the blind man heard the noise of so many people passing
by, he wondered. And they told him that Jesus was passing by, and that
all the people were following Him. And he asked, `Is it Jesus, who
healed the ruler's little daughter?' Then he began to call out, as loud
as he was able, `Jesus, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!'
And all the people told him to be still, and not make such a noise. But
he thought, `Perhaps Jesus will never come this way again!' so he cried
out all the more.

"Well, Jesus heard him, and He stood still and waited till the blind man
came up to Him. And then He said, `What wilt thou that I should do unto
you?' And the man said, `Lord, that mine eyes might be opened.'

"And with a single word that Jesus spoke, his eyes were opened; and he
saw the earth, and the sky, and the wondering crowd, and Jesus. Jus