CHAPTER VI.

CECILE GIVES HER HEART.


It was thus, sitting at Mrs. Moseley's knee in that snug kitchen,
that Cecile got her great question answered. It was Mrs. Moseley who
explained to the longing, wondering child, what Jesus the Guide would
do, who Jesus the Guide really was. It was Mrs. Moseley who told
Cecile what a glorious future she had before her, and how safe her
life down in this world really was.

And Cecile listened, half glad, half sorry, but, if the truth must
be known, dimly understanding. For Cecile, sweet as her nature was
had slow perceptions.

She was eight years old, and in her peculiar, half English, half
foreign life, she had never before heard anything of true religion.
All the time Mrs. Moseley was speaking, she listened with bright eyes
and flushed cheeks. But when the sweet old story came to an end,
Cecile burst into tears.

"Oh! I'm glad and I'm sorry," she sobbed; "I wanted a real, real
guide. I'm glad as the story's quite true, but I wanted someone to
hold my hand, and to carry Maurice when he's ever so tired. I'm glad
and sorry."