"It was hard to refuse you, and disappoint Aunt Mattie and Blanche. Yes; I should have wanted to go, should have liked to go, if it had seemed right. But you know I couldn't want to do anything that it was made plain to me would dishonor Christ. I desire above all things to please him; and he made it very plain to me, Phil." Now they were at the church door, and she reached for her Bible. "You are not going to invite me in, I suppose? You are tired of that effort, and have given me up?" "'You said you would not go," she answered, with a wistful smile. She believed he was mocking her eagerness, and meant nothing else. "I know I did; but isn't a bad promise better broken than kept? You need not ask me again. There is no need. I am going to accept your former invitations. Take me into your class, and introduce me to Mr. Easton." "Did he really go into the class?" "Oh, Daisy, you darling, you don't mean it? And what did Mr. Easton say? He liked him, didn't he? I knew he would." "Oh, Daisy, how did you get him to go? I thought it was all over." These were some of the exclamations and queries of the delighted mother and sister, who had waited between alternate hope and fear, to see whether Phil would really return with his cousin, or had joined his Sunday friends elsewhere. Before she could make other than the most general answers, he had come down-stairs again, and joined the group in the back parlor. "He is here to answer for himself," she said, with a smile, as he leaned over his mother's chair. "My dear boy," she said fondly, reaching up her hand to his, "you have made your mother very happy. Do tell me that you mean to go again." "Yes 'm, I mean to go again. I have joined the class, and promised to be there regularly." "Oh, Phil!" This from the mother, with tremulous lips. "I knew Mr. Easton would fascinate you." This from Blanche, with a pleased little laugh. Her brother turned to her. "No, Blanche; I must be honest. I liked him, and shall like him, I think. But the decision of to-day was made before I saw him, and reaches farther than to the Bible Class. I have determined to serve God. I have gone on my knees, and asked him to make what he can of me. "And the immediate reason for doing so is, because I have decided that there is such a thing as genuine religion which satisfies, so that the heart does not need the world in the shape of theatres or operas or dancing-parties, or any such thing; and that one who unreservedly gives herself to Him can resist all the lighter and safer forms of its fascinations, if she suspects evil lurking in them—can resist them steadily and gently, and remain calm under fire." He paused for a moment, while the astonished group waited for what might come next. Then he bent lower over his mother.