After Everett's departure, Ann tripped into Floyd's room in a happier
state of mind than had been hers for several days. It had been her habit
to kneel beside the boy at night and send up a petition for his
recovery. Now she would thank God for his goodness to her,--Everett had
come to be more like himself, and Floyd's welcoming smile sent a thrill
of joy through her. As Ann entered, Fledra looked up from her book. Her
pale, beseeching face drew Miss Shellington to her.
"Fledra dear, you study too late and too hard. You don't look at all
well."
"I keep tellin' her that same thing, Sister Ann," said Floyd; "but she
keeps mutterin' over them words till I know 'em myself."
Miss Shellington turned Fledra's face up to hers, smoothing down the
dark curls.
"Go to bed, child; you're absolutely tired out. Kiss me goodnight,
Dear."
Fledra loitered in the hall until she heard Miss Shellington leave
Floyd; then she stole forward.
"Will you come to my room a little while, Sister Ann?"
Without a word, Ann took the girl's hand; together they entered the blue
room.
Fledra wheeled about upon Miss Shellington, when the door had been,
closed.
"Do you believe all those things you pray about, Sister Ann?" she
appealed brokenly.
Ann questioned Fledra with a look; the girl made clearer her demand by
adding:
"Do you believe that Jesus hears you when you ask Him something you want
very, very bad?"
She looked so miserable, so frail and lonely, that Ann put her arms
about her.
"Sit down here with me, Fledra. There! Put your little tired head right
here, and I'll tell you all I can."
"I want to be helped!" murmured Fledra.
"I've known that for sometime," Ann said softly; "and I'm so happy that
you've come to me!"
"It's nothin' you can do; but I was thinkin' that perhaps Jesus could do
it."
Ann pressed the girl closer.
"Is it something you can't tell me?"
Fledra nodded.
"And you can't tell my brother?"
The girl's nervous start filled Ann with dismay; for now she knew that
the trouble rested with Horace. She waited for an answer to her
question, and at length Fledra, crestfallen, blurted out:
"I can't tell anybody but--"
"Jesus?" whispered Ann.
"Yes; and I don't know how to tell Him."
Ann thought a moment.
"Fledra, if you wanted someone to do something for you, about which that
person knew nothing, wouldn't you have to tell it before it could be
granted?"
Fledra nodded.
"Then, that's what you are to do tonight. You are to kneel down here
when I am gone, and you are to feel positively sure that God will help,
if you ask Him in Jesus' name. Do you think you have faith enough to do
that?"
"I don't know what faith is," replied Fledra in a whisper.
"I'll tell you what it is, Dear. Now, then, don't you remember how my
brother and I prayed for Floyd?"
Fledra pressed Ann's arm.
"And don't you remember, Dear, that almost immediately he was helped?"
"You had a doctor," said Fledra slowly.