"
"Didn't know any better than what?"
"Than to think an iron girdle would do him any good."
"But why wouldn't it do him any good?"
"Because you know, Sir, that is not the way we can have our
sins forgiven."
"What _is_ the way?"
Ellen looked at him, to see if he was in jest or earnest. Her
look staggered him a little, but he repeated his question. She
cast her eyes down, and answered —
"Jesus Christ said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life; no
man cometh unto the Father but by me.' "
Mr. Lindsay said no more.
"I wish that was the Bruce's crown," said Ellen, after a
while. "I should like to see anything that belonged to him."
"I'll take you to the field of Bannockburn some day; that
belonged to him with a vengeance. It lies over yonder."
"Bannockburn! will you? and Stirling castle! Oh, how I should
like that!"
"Stirling castle," said Mr. Lindsay, smiling at Ellen's
clasped hands of delight; "what do you know of Stirling
castle?"
"From the history, you know, Sir, and the _Lord of the Isles;_ —
" 'Old Stirling's towers arose in light —' "
"Go on," said Mr. Lindsay.
" 'And twined in links of silver bright,
Her winding river lay.' "
"That's this same river Forth, Ellen. Do you know any more?"
"Oh yes, Sir."
"Go on, and tell me all you can remember."
"_All!_ that would be a great deal, Sir."
"Go on till I tell you to stop.
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