Page:Adams - A Child of the Age.djvu/225

213 and tell God about it; but then, remembering that He was up in the sky, clasp his two hands together, and look up to Him; and say:

'Dear God, You are a long, long way away from me: right up in the deep, blue sky, farther away than even the sun, perhaps, and the moon and the stars.—But I love You, I love You! because You know everything I think about and everything that I want to do! And I pray that You won't let me die till I am very old and have done all the things I want to do. But please help me to be a great man. Through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord, Amen.'

I threw up my face with my hands behind my head, the sob rising to my lips, the tears to my eyes. 'Oh God, God, why shouldn't I pray to You now? Is there no one to hear me? Is there no one to ''What? Rayne!—Rayne! you here!''' Everything in me stood still. She was looking at me through the curtains. I made a sharp stride and opened them. It was Rosy. 'You startled me,' I said, 'I took you for a ghost.'

'Took me for a—ghost,' she said slowly, advancing slowly, till her eyes were close to mine.

'You called me—Rayne!' she said.

'No;' I said; 'not you—the ghost.' Fury seemed suddenly to possess her.

'I hate her!' she cried discordantly.

I took her in my arms, in a half-unconscious way that meant quiet.

'Don't be a fool,' I said, 'why did you get up?' She was struggling a little to get free.

I let her go; and, turning, walked away to the hearthrug, and stood collecting my thoughts, I felt her hand touch my arm. I looked aside and down, at her face.

'Don't be un-kind to me,' she said. 'You're not kind to me!' 'Then,' I said unaffectedly; 'I'm sorry.' I turned again, and, putting my hands on her shoulders, looked at her; 'As for that "Don't be a fool," of mine, you mustn't look upon it, or the things I say like it, as unkindness.' The expression of her full, half-dreamy