After dinner, Ellen and her friend went up to the promenade deck again, and there for a while they paced up and down, enjoying the pleasant air and the quick motion, and the lovely appearance of everything in the mild hazy sunlight. Another gentleman, however, joining them, and entering into conversation, Ellen silently quitted her friend's hand and went and sat down at the side of the boat. After taking a few turns more, and while still engaged in talking, he drew his little hymn-book out of his pocket, and with a smile put it into Ellen's hand as he passed. She gladly received it, and spent an hour or more very pleasantly in studying and turning it over. At the end of that time, the stranger having left him, Ellen's friend came and sat down by her side. "How do you like my little book?" said he. "Oh, very much indeed, sir." "Then you love hymns, do you?" "Yes, I do, sir, dearly." "Do you sometimes learn them by heart?" "Oh yes, sir, often. Mamma often made me. I have learnt two since I have been sitting here." "Have you?" said he. "Which are they?" "One of them is the one you showed me this morning, sir." "And what is your mind now about the question I asked you this morning?" Ellen cast down her eyes from his inquiring glance, and answered in a low tone, "Just what it was then, sir." "Have you been thinking of it since?" "I have thought of it the whole time, sir." "And you are resolved you will obey Christ henceforth?" "I am resolved to try, sir." "My dear Ellen, if you are in earnest you will not try in vain. He never yet failed any that sincerely sought Him. Have you a Bible?" "Oh yes, sir! a beautiful one. Mamma gave it to me the other day." He took the hymn-book from her hand, and turning over the leaves, marked several places in pencil. "I am going to give you this," he said, "that it may serve to remind you of what we have talked of to-day, and of your resolution." Ellen flushed high with pleasure. "I have put this mark," said he, showing her a particular one, "in a few places of this book for you. Wherever you find it, you may know there is something I want you to take special notice of. There are some other marks here too, but they are mine. _These_ are for you." "Thank you, sir," said Ellen, delighted. "I shall not forget." He knew from her face what she meant--not the _marks_. The day wore on, thanks to the unwearied kindness of her friend, with great comparative comfort to Ellen. Late in the afternoon they were resting from a long walk up and down the deck. "What have you got in this package that you take such care of?" said he, smiling. "Oh, candies," said Ellen. "I am always forgetting them. I meant to ask you to take some. Will you have some, sir?" "Thank you. What are they?" "Almost all kinds, I believe, sir. I think the almonds are the best." He took one. "Pray take some more, sir," said Ellen. "I don't care for them in the least."