I'm only a little girl, and I don't know much, and I can't explain to you
what I wish to say. I know well that it is my duty to obey you, and so my
father instructed me before he died, and when I disobeyed him, he punished
me, but in my father's case--" and here she hesitated.

"Go on, go on," said my father.

"My father's will was also God's will. He used to say that he was my
earthly father but that God was my heavenly Father, and that if he should
die, God was to be my Father forever. And no matter what happened, or where
I was, I must continue to serve God, no matter who endeavored to stop me.
For it is written in God's Word, 'We should obey God, rather than men.'"

I saw my father go pale with anger. "You're an insolent girl!" he cried.
"And I have a good mind to give you a good whipping, to teach you to
respect your elders."

Paula looked at him with surprise. "I don't understand, uncle. Those words
are written in the New Testament."

"Show them to me," ordered my father.

Paula, glad to escape for a moment, ran for her Bible, which was always
beside her in our little bedroom. As she crossed the threshold, Teresa
entered to carry away the dishes. "What now? What's the matter?" said the
old servant as she looked at Paula's tearful face. "What on earth have you
been crying about, poor child?"

My father answered for her. "She's been guilty of most incredible
impertinence."