“No,” said Marcia, “father doesn't believe in any of those things, and mother had got to letting them go, because he didn't take any interest in them. They did have the first children christened, but I was the last.” “I didn't speak with your father on the subject,” faltered Mrs. Halleck. “I didn't know what his persuasion was.” “Why, father doesn't belong to _any_ church! He believes in a God, but he doesn't believe in the Bible.” Mrs. Halleck sank down on the garden seat too much shocked to speak, and Marcia continued. “I don't know whether the Bible is true or not; but I've often wished that I belonged to church.” “You couldn't, unless you believed in the Bible,” said Mrs. Halleck. “Yes, I know that. Perhaps I should, if anybody proved it to me. I presume it could be explained. I never talked much with any one about it. There must be a good many people who don't belong to church, although they believe in the Bible. I should be perfectly willing to try, if I only knew how to begin.” In view of this ruinous open-mindedness, Mrs. Halleck could only say, “The way to begin is to read it.” “Well, I will try. How do you know, after you've become so that you believe the Bible, whether you're fit to join the church?” “It's hard to tell you, my dear. You have to feel first that you have a Saviour,--that you've given your whole heart to him,--that he can save you, and that no one else can,--that all you can do yourself won't help you. It's an experience.” Marcia looked at her attentively, as if this were all a very hard saying. “Yes, I've heard of that. Some of the girls had it at school. But I never did. Well,” she said at last, “I don't feel so anxious about myself, just at present, as I do about Flavia. I want to do everything I can for Flavia, Mrs. Halleck. I want her to be christened,--I want her to be baptized into some church. I think a good deal about it. I think sometimes, what if she should die, and I hadn't done that for her, when may be it was one of the most important things--” Her voice shook, and she pressed her lips together. “Of course,” said Mrs. Halleck, tenderly, “I think it is the _most_ important thing.” “But there are so many churches,” Marcia resumed. “And I don't know about any of them. I told Mr. Halleck just now, that I should like her to belong to the church where the best people went, if I could find it out. Of course, it was a ridiculous way to talk; I knew he thought so. But what I meant was that I wanted she should be with good people all her life; and I didn't care what she believed.” “It's very important to believe the truth, my dear,” said Mrs. Halleck. “But the truth is so hard to be certain of, and you know goodness as soon as you see it. Mrs. Halleck, I'll tell you what I want: I want Flavia should be baptized into your church. Will you let her?”