"Well, I will tell you," said Alice, "at all risks. I thought your mother was a lady, from the honourable notions she had given you; and from your ready obedience to her, which was evidently the obedience of love, I judged she had been a good mother in the true sense of the term. I thought she must be a refined and cultivated person, from the manner of your speech and behaviour; and I was sure she was a Christian, because she had taught you the truth, and evidently had tried to lead you in it." The quivering face of delight with which Ellen began to listen gave way, long before Alice had done, to a burst of tears. "It makes me so glad to hear you say that," she said. "The praise of it is your mother's, you know, Ellen." "I know it; but you make me so glad!" And hiding her face in Alice's lap, she fairly sobbed. "You understand now, don't you, how Christians may honour or dishonour their Heavenly Father?" "Yes, I do; but it makes me afraid to think of it." "Afraid? It ought rather to make you glad. It is a great honour and happiness for us to be permitted to honour Him-- 'A never-dying: soul to save, And fit it for the sky.' Yes, that is the great duty you owe yourself. Oh, never forget it, dear Ellen! And whatever would hinder you, have nothing to do with it. 'What will it profit a man though he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?'-- 'To serve the present age, My calling to fulfil--'" "What is 'the present age'?" said Ellen. "All the people who are living in the world at this time." "But, dear Alice, what can I do to the present age?" "Nothing to the most part of them certainly; and yet, dear Ellen, if your little rushlight shines well there is just so much the less darkness in the world, though perhaps you light only a very little corner. Every Christian is a blessing to the world, another grain of salt to go towards sweetening and saving the mass." "That is very pleasant to think of," said Ellen, musing. "Oh, if we were but full of love to our Saviour, how pleasant it would be to do anything for Him! how many ways we should find of honouring Him by doing good." "I wish you would tell me some of the ways that I can do it," said Ellen. "You will find them fast enough if you seek them, Ellen. No one is so poor or so young but he has one talent at least to use for God." "I wish I knew what mine is," said Ellen. "Is your daily example as perfect as it can be?" Ellen was silent and shook her head. "Christ pleased not Himself, and went about doing good; and He said, 'If any man serve Me, let him _follow Me_.' Remember that. Perhaps your aunt is unreasonable and unkind; see with how much patience and perfect sweetness of temper you can bear and forbear; see if you cannot win her over by untiring gentleness, obedience, and meekness. Is there no improvement to be made here?" "Oh me, yes!" answered Ellen, with a sigh.