Ray sent for both of the boys to come to his room; he was sick, but not too sick to see and talk with Bob whenever he could get a chance.
He made the half-hour spent with him so pleasant, that Bob gave an eager assent to the request that he would come often.

More than that, he kept his word; and as often as he passed Edward's door, towards nine o'clock, he stepped lightly, for he knew that he was being prayed for, and there began to come into his heart a strange longing to pray for himself.

One evening he discovered that Ray, too, prayed every night for him, and the vague notion grew into a certainty, that what they two were so anxious about for him, he ought to desire for himself.
"Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Edward had taken this promise into his heart; he was trying to live up to the condition to abide in Christ, and in due season God made His promise sure.
"I wish," Bob said to Ray one evening when the weary head was full of pain,--"I _do_ wish I could do something for you." "You can," Ray answered quickly,--"something that I would like better than almost anything else in the world." "What is it ?" Bob's question was sincere and eager.
"Give yourself to Christ." Bob heard this in grave, earnest silence.
"I would," he said after a minute, "if I knew how." "Do you mean that ?" "Yes, I do; I'm sick of waiting, and I'm sick of myself." "If I should tell you how, would you do it ?" "Yes, I would," spoken evidently with honest meaning.
"Kneel down, then, here beside me, and say to God that you want to be a Christian; that you are willing to give yourself up to Him now and for ever, to do just as He tells you." Bob hesitated, struggling a little, and at last knelt down.

There was silence in the room, while three sincere hearts were lifted up in prayer; and surely Christ bent low to listen.

When Bob would have risen, Ray laid one hand on his arm, and, steadying his throbbing head with the other, said solemnly,-- "Blessed Redeemer, here is a soul given up to Thee.