Hughie loved to hear her sing alto, and more especially because he liked to join in with her, which he was too shy to do alone, even in his home, and which he would never think of doing in the Bible class, or in the presence of any of the boys who might, for this reason, think him "proud." When they came to Hughie's turn, he chose the hymn by Bliss, recently published, "Whosoever will," the words seem to strike him tonight.
"Mother," he said, after singing it through, "does that mean everybody that likes ?" "Yes, my dear, any one that wishes." "Pharaoh, mother ?" "Yes, Pharaoh, too." "But, mother, you said he could not possibly." "Only because he did not want to." "But he could not, even if he did want to." "I hope I did not say that," said his mother, smiling at the eager and earnest young face.
"No, auntie," said Harry, taking up Hughie's cause, "not exactly, but something very like it.

You said that Pharaoh could not possibly have acted in any other way than he did." "Yes, I said that." "Not even if he wanted to ?" asked Hughie.
"Oh, I did not say that." "The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart," quoted Ranald, who knew his Bible better than Harry.
"Yes, that is it," said Harry, "and so that made it impossible for Pharaoh to do anything else.

He could not help following after those people." "Why not ?" said Mrs.Murray.

"What made him follow?
Now just think, what made him follow after those people ?" "Why, he wanted to get them back," said Hughie.
"Quite true," said his mother.

"So you see, he did exactly as he wanted to." "Then you mean the Lord had nothing to do with it ?" asked Ranald.
"No, I could not say that." "Then," said Harry, "Pharaoh could not help himself.