"Yes, and on looking out in the morning, said: 'It's just as I expected; I knew it would be here just the same!' I know the story, and I see your point on lack of faith," said Miss Reynolds, echoing the girl's laugh. "But that is not the way Christian Scientists pray," Katherine observed. "Jesus said, 'All things whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.' You are not quite like the woman who prayed for what she was sure she would not get; but you are 'amazed' because you have received that for which we asked; which shows that you did not really expect it." "But I must have had some faith, Kathie, or I would not have trusted myself to your treatment." "True; and that was your first step in Christian Science, which brought with it the proof of God's supremacy." "It certainly is a beautiful proof," Miss Reynolds earnestly returned, "for I have been subject to these attacks for many years, and have always been under the care of a physician from three to five weeks before getting back to my normal condition." She went on with her dinner, but it was evident that she was thinking deeply, while Katherine moved softly about the room putting things in order. "Katherine," the woman at length inquired, "what is this 'treatment' which you give the sick? Is it simply prayer?" "Yes, and the understanding that God is all in all." "Well, I would like to know the secret of it. I have been a prayerful woman during the greater portion of my life--at least, according to the common acceptation of the term; but I have never before known of a direct answer to prayer such has come to you or to me, through you. What constitutes a Christian Scientist's prayer and understanding?" "That question involves a great deal," said Katherine, smiling. "Briefly, it is reaching out for and appropriating that which is already ours." "'Appropriating?'" "Yes, knowing that all good belongs by right to us, as God's dear children; and acting as if we knew it, by gratefully accepting it," Katherine explained. Then observing the puzzled look on her teacher's face, she went on: "Let me illustrate. You asked for your dinner. I have brought it and set it before you. All you have to do is to reach out and partake of it to satisfy your hunger. How inconsistent it would be if you should ignore these facts and keep on saying, 'Katherine, I want my dinner; please, oh, please give me some food, for I am starving.'" "How ridiculous that sounds!" said Miss Reynolds, laughing. "I begin to comprehend what you mean and that the old way of praying is only a halfway prayer, while begging and supplicating God to keep His promises impugns His righteousness." "Exactly," Katherine assented, then added: "Prayer is really twofold--asking and taking, praying and doing; knowing that God's promises mean what they say, and confidently expecting their fulfillment."