Wilmot drew Mary's little hand within his own, and rose to proceed on their walk, and the rest followed in silence. "It is not always 'too late,' Wilmot, is it?" asked she. "No, my pet; never while life lasts." "Because I shouldn't like to be left out. I often think about it, and I don't believe He will shut me out." "Not if you have once been in, darling." "But I'm not in heaven now, Wilmot, so how can I be in?" "I mean if once you love Christ, and ask Him to be your Saviour. Then you are safe in Him." "Well I often have; and I do love Him, Willie." Wilmot pressed her hand. "Did you ever hear about the ark, Mary?" "Noah's ark?" "Yes. Do you not remember how God told them to go into the ark to be safe?" "Yes; and they went in." "Just so; they went in. Did they know whether they were inside or not?" "Of course they did," said Mary, smiling. "And did they feel afraid of the water which was rising so rapidly round them on every side?" "No; they knew it could not touch them in the ark." "No more can anything hurt you, darling, if You have come to Jesus. The Bible says, 'No man shall pluck them out of My hand.'" "Yes; that's as if you held something very fast, high over my head, and someone was trying to snatch it away from you." "Yes; someone not as tall or strong as I." "I see," said Mary; "and so, just the same, if I'm safe in the arms of Jesus, I can't be shut out, because if He's there, I must be too." She smiled happily, and they turned round to look for the others. They were close behind, and were eagerly collecting shells, which were to be found very perfect on this part of the coast. Mary joined in the search, while Wilmot watched them and walked along humming a song to himself, his voice blending with the song of the waves, and then falling below it, and then rising above it, but always in tune. They were in a comparatively small bay; on either extreme to the right and left a headland jutted out into the sea, with rocks beneath them which the winter's storms had detached from the cliff above. Here the breakers played their prettiest gambols. Just now they were surrounding the rock which appeared furthest out to sea, and were dashing up its side with fountains of white spray. "The tide is coming in," said Hope; "but we shall have plenty of time for the caves. Come along, Nellie; you will be so delighted with them." No one could leave the edge of the sea, however, till they actually came in front of the spot they were seeking. Then they all turned landwards, and soon had traversed the strip of even clear sand which brought them up under the rocks. The Elliots had been here twice before, and had very little difficulty in finding the opening to the caves. They all halted then, and several produced small wax candles, which they proceeded to light. Little Mary was delighted, and begged to hold one; and George gave his up to her good-humouredly, saying, "Mind you don't singe your curls, Polly."