"Well," said Edward, as he tried the door to see that all was safe before leaving, "then I'll tell you. Every night, at exactly half-past eight, I go to my room and ask God over and over again to make you want to be a Christian." Not a single word did Bob answer to this; he took long strides up the street by the side of Edward in the direction of Mr. Mintern's, never once speaking until they had reached the door, and stood waiting to be let in; then he said, "Tip, that's mean." "What is?" "To get a fellow to promise what he can't do." "I have not. Don't you want to be a Christian?" "No; I can't say that I'm particular about it." "But that's too silly to believe. You need a friend to help you about as badly as any one I know of, and when you can have one for the asking, why shouldn't you want Him? Besides, I didn't say _make_ you a Christian, anyhow; I said make you _want_ to be one. You can pray, that _I'm_ sure; any way, you promised, and I trusted you." Bob followed him through the hall, up the stairs, to his neat little room, and whistled "Hail, Columbia," while he lighted a match and turned on the gas. "My! you have things in style here, don't you?" he said, looking around, while the bright light gleamed over the pretty carpet and shining furniture. "Yes," said Edward; "everything in this house is in style. Bob, it's half-past eight." "Well," Bob said good-naturedly, "I'd like to know what I'm to do; this is new business to me, you see." "I'm going to kneel down here and pray for you, and you promised to do the same." Edward knelt at his bedside, and Bob, half laughing, followed his example. But Christ must have been praying too, and putting words into Edward's heart to say. By and by, in spite of himself, Bob had to put up his hand and dash away a tear or two. He had never heard himself prayed for before. That evening was one to be remembered by Bob Turner, for more than one reason. Bay sent for both of the boys to come to his room; he was sick, but not too sick to see and talk with Bob whenever he could get a chance. He made the half-hour spent with him so pleasant, that Bob gave an eager assent to the request that he would come often. More than that, he kept his word; and as often as he passed Edward's door, towards nine o'clock, he stepped lightly, for he knew that he was being prayed for, and there began to come into his heart a strange longing to pray for himself. One evening he discovered that Ray, too, prayed every night for him, and the vague notion grew into a certainty, that what they two were so anxious about for him, he ought to desire for himself. "Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Edward had taken this promise into his heart; he was trying to live up to the condition to abide in Christ, and in due season God made His promise sure. "I wish," Bob said to Ray one evening when the weary head was full of pain,--"I _do_ wish I could do something for you."