"Our Father requires us to do a great many things which are not in human nature," said Mrs. Worthington. "I think that is very hard," said Rhoda. "That depends," returned her friend. "If I give a boy, say, a Latin lesson which is quite beyond his power, and leave him to do it alone, without help, you would say that was very hard?" "Yes, ma'am." "But if I give him the same lesson, and say to him, I know very well that you cannot do this alone, but here are lexicons and grammars and commentaries and a translation, and, moreover, I will myself sit down with you and help you over the hard places, would not that alter the case?" "It certainly would," answered Rhoda. "The boy would have no cause to complain." "Well, just so our Lord deals with us. He gives us tasks far beyond sour natural powers, but he affords us every help—his word, his example, and his life; and he himself is ready to be with us and help us by his presence and his strength. "'I am with you alway, even to the end of the world,—' "I see is one of Aunt Hannah's verses. "'I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me,—' "said the apostle, and he might well say so. You can no more make yourself forgiving than you can make yourself well and strong, but you can put yourself into the hands of One who can make you so if you really, honestly desire it." "I'm afraid that has been the thing," Rhoda. "I haven't felt as if I wanted to forgive. It seems to me—" "It seems to you a terrible wrong, and so it is," said Mrs. Worthington, as Rhoda paused. "I can hardly think of a greater. They promised to take care of you as their own, and they had no more right to turn you off than if you had been born to them. The first thing you have to do is to ask for the will to forgive; the rest will come in time. You might be worse off than you are here." "Yes, indeed. Everybody is so kind to me." "Well, there is one thing to be thankful for, at all events. You may be sure we shall not turn you off. I won't talk to you any more now, but I shall come to see you again. Try to get well as soon as you can." So saying, Mrs. Worthington kissed Rhoda and went away, leaving the Bible lying open on the bed. Rhoda took it up and turned the leaves over, reading here and there a passage which she found marked by Aunt Hannah's pencil. Then she lay still a long while with closed eyes and clasped hands, and at last she fell asleep. She was waked by Mrs. Lambert's coming in with her dinner. "Is it dinner-time? What a nice sleep I have had!" said Rhoda, rubbing her eyes. "Good!" said Mrs. Lambert, depositing her tray on the table and bringing a basin of fresh water to the bedside. "If you begin to fall asleep in the day-time, you will sleep at night. Don't you want to wash your face? How do you feel?" "Better," answered Rhoda, bathing her eyes. "I believe I could sit up and eat my dinner."