"The brave answer made his persecutor release him, and not only that, but he began to think there must be some great strength about these Christians that they are able to resist evil. Get your Bibles out to-night, and read for yourselves 1 Timothy iv. 11, 12, a bit of Timothy's old letter, and remember God has sent it to you both, not only to tell you about him, but how to grow like him, and be a good follower of the King of kings." "Did Timothy stick to it all, Miss Woodford?" asked Bob interestedly. "History answers 'yes,' for years after, when he was at Ephesus, a very wicked city, where the inhabitants were given up to idolatry, superstition, and sin, one day when he was preaching to a great crowd, they set upon him in their heathen fury and killed him. So you see this brave man, who must always have lived in danger of losing his life, this plucky boy, died a martyr's death--and so gave up his life for the Saviour he had loved so long." The story was finished, and no one spoke for a little while. Ellice moved away to gather wild flowers, and Bob busied himself throwing acorns at the birds. Presently he said quietly: "I should have liked to have known that chap, Miss Woodford; seems a pity he's dead." "And yet alive, Bob, for evermore. Perhaps you will know him in that other life--choose the same King?" she said softly. "Think what an interesting world the next life means, and the number of Old Testament people, as well as New Testament ones, we shall meet--and, above all, Bob, live in the company of the Lord Himself." "Umph!--I can fancy them all marching singing up to the throne, but I don't think I--shall--ever get in; I shall never be fit." The boy's voice was husky as he said these words, then he turned over and lay face downwards on the ground. "_If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,_" said Margaret. "You see, He has promised, and He never fails us, though we often disappoint Him--ask Him for yourself"; and with this Margaret went to join Ellice, just pleading silently in her own heart that the Holy Spirit of God would plant and water the seed she had tried to sow, and cause it to spring up into everlasting life. Half an hour later, when she and Ellice returned with a basket full of wild flowers and fern roots, there was no trace of seriousness about Bob; he just seemed overflowing with fun. Margaret wondered; but she knew how to leave all results with God. The tea was a merry one--once only Ellice tried to be disobedient. To her utter surprise Bob said sharply: "Shut up, and do what you are told, and don't worry Miss Woodford." Sheer astonishment held Ellice silent. It looked as if her best supporter was quite going over to the enemy! From her bedroom window Mrs. Medhurst watched the trio, when they started out to the woods, with an air of surprise.