dear Saviour His life; our
souls have been redeemed. Animals have no souls, they do not know the
difference between right and wrong----'

'But Prince does,' broke in Betty hastily; 'he knows lots of the Bible,
for I've told him about it, and I read The Peep of Day to him on
Sunday. He likes it; he lies quite still on my lap and folds his paws
and listens like anything. And I've told him about Jesus dying for
him, and how he must try to be good. And he does try: he wanted to run
after some little chickens yesterday, and I called him and told him it
was wicked, and he came away from them directly; and I know he wanted
to go after them dreadfully, for he was licking his lips and glaring at
them!'

This outburst from Betty was too much for Nesta. She looked at her
with perplexity, then wisely turned the subject, and after a few
minutes' more chat left her, and went back to the house.

Betty wandered out into the wood, and then seating herself on a soft
bank surrounded by ferns and foxgloves, she drew Prince to her.

'Come, you little darling, how do you like this? Isn't it lovely to be
spending a day in that lovely house, and not have to be shut out with
only some lilies to take away? Do you like it, Prince? And do you
think we shall see that nice queen, and find out if she sent you in a
basket to me? Do you understand about nature, Prince? I wish I did,
but it's the earth, I think; you put your mouth down and kiss it.
Isn't it nice and soft?'

And then, laying her curly head on the velvet moss, Betty pressed her
lips to it, whispering, 'Mother Nature, Mr. Roper sent you his love and
a kiss!'

Prince was not content to stay as quiet as this for long, and when a
rabbit popped out from a hole close by, he was after it like lightning.
Betty tore after him delightedly, and a scamper removed from her busy
little mind for the time thoughts that were beginning to trouble her.

When Nesta returned to the garden half an hour after, she found Betty
deep in conversation with the old gardener, and Prince was hunting for
snails in a thick laurel hedge close by.

'We didn't stay out in the wood very long,' Betty explained; 'we got
tired of running after rabbits.'

'You must come in to luncheon now; I want you to come up to my room to
wash your face and hands.'

'Will the cross lady be at lunch?' asked Betty, as she trotted up the
broad oak stairs a few minutes later.

'Hush, dear; she is ill, remember. I don't th