"That is an art. Some of the Bible stories require such help to make them seem real to modern folk. How does, or how did, Leila take Mrs. Ann's teachings?"
"Oh, Leila," he replied, as he began to pitch pebbles in the little river, "Leila--wriggled. You know, she really can't keep quiet, Mr. Rivers."
"Yes, I know well enough. But did what interested you interest Leila?"
"No--no, indeed, sir. It troubled Aunt Ann because she could not make her see things. Usually at night before bedtime we read some of the Gospels, and then once a week Acts. Every now and then Leila would sit still and ask such queer questions--about people."
"What kind of questions, John?" He was interested and curious.
"Oh, about Peter's mother and--I forget--oh, yes, once--I remember that because aunt did not like it and I really couldn't see why."
"She wanted to know if Christ's brothers ever were married and if they had children."
"Aunt Ann asked her why she wanted to know that, and Leila said it was because she was thinking how Christ must have loved them, and maybe that was why He was so fond of little children. Now, I couldn't have thought that."
"Nor I," said Rivers. "She will care more for people--oh, many people--and by and by for things, events and the large aspects of life, but she is as yet undeveloped."
John was clear that he did not want her to like many people, but he was inclined to keep this to himself and merely said, "I don't quite understand."
"No, perhaps I _was_ a little vague. Leila is at the puzzling age. You will find her much altered in a year."
"Well, perhaps not. But you too have changed a good deal since you came. You were a queer young prig."
Then they were silent a while. John thought of his mother who had left him to the care of tutors and schools while she led a wandering, unhappy, invalid life. He remembered the Alps and the _spas_ and her fretful care of his very good health, and then the delight of being free and surrounded with all a boy desires, and at last Leila and the wonderful hair on the snow-drift.
"Look at the leaves, John," said Rivers. "What fleets of red and gold!"
"I wonder," said John, "how far they will drift, and if any of them will ever float to the sea. It is a long way."