“Guess,” she laughed.

“A fairy princess,” said Chester.

“Mother Goose,” responded the father.

They moved apart and let her sit between them.

“The rose between,” suggested Chester.

“The tie that binds,” corrected the girl, placing an arm about each of them.

Then they all laughed so merrily, that the infection reached a ragged urchin playing on the gravel-path near by.

“My dear,” said the father.  “Chester has promised to stay with us, and be—­”

“Your man—­about—­the—­house,” finished Chester.

“Which we certainly need,” agreed Lucy.  “Two people, Strong by name, but mighty weak by nature, as my old nurse used to say, require some such a man.  I’m glad father picked you.”

“He chose us, rather, Lucy,” said the father.

“Well, either way.”

“Both,” affirmed Chester, at which they all laughed again.

A carriage with liveried coachman and footman, and containing two ladies drove by.  The little boy had to leave his gravel castle while the wheels of the carriage crushed it to the level.  The boy looked at the ruins a moment, then at the departing vehicle.  Then he started his building anew safely away from wheel tracks.

“A young philosopher,” remarked the minister, observing the occurrence.

“Papa,” said Lucy, after a pause of consideration, “you have made me so happy to-day.  You can make my joy complete by granting me one other thing.”

“What’s that?” asked he unthinkingly.

“Let me be baptized,” she replied softly.

The father’s body stiffened perceptibly, and his face sobered.

“Believe me, papa, I am sorry to have to annoy you so much on the matter; but I can’t help it.  Something within me urges me on.  I can’t get away from the testimony which I have, any more than I can get away from my shadow.”

“You can get away from your shadow,” said the minister.

“Yes; by going into the dark, and that I do not want to do.  I want to live in the light,—­the beautiful gospel light always.”

Chester listened in pleased wonder to Lucy’s pleadings.  He added nothing as she seemed able to say all that was necessary.  In time the father’s face softened again, and he turned to Chester to ask: 

“What do you think of such arguments?”

“They’re splendid—­and reasonable—­and true, sir.”

“Of course, you would say so.  Well, I’ll think about it, Lucy.”

“But, papa, you’ve been thinking about it a lot, and time is going.  Say yes today, now—­here with Chester and me—­and the Lord alone.  Besides, papa, now I ought to be one with Chester in everything.  That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Yes; that’s right.”

“So you consent?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You must.  I’m of age anyway, and could do it without your consent; but I don’t want to.  I want your blessing instead of your disapproval on such an important step.”