human
Dear boy, did you value it so much?
gpt
Oh, Auntie!
human
Darling, I am sorry; but we must believe that Uncle Raymond has good reasons for taking the book away. He says it is fearful heresy. You must not forget that your dear grandfather was a bishop, also your great-grandfather. I could not tell you during how many generations there has always been at least one member of our family a dignitary of the Church.
gpt
What does unorthodox mean, Auntie?
human
It means contrary to, or opposed to the teachings of our beloved church. Your dear father and mother were both good church people.
gpt
Yes, Auntie; but that did not make Mummie better when she was so ill. The vicar often used to sit with her, and pray for her in church, but she was never better for it. When Cousin Alicia came and I was so ill, I began at once to get better. That little book, _Science and Health_, had taught her to understand the Bible, and God answered her prayers for me!
human
It was certainly a remarkable coincidence--your improving so quickly after Miss Desmond came; but it may have been the result of some fresh medicine the doctor was trying.
gpt
Auntie, I was not taking any medicine. The first night Cousin Alicia came I slept till morning, and the next day I wanted something to eat. The nurses thought it was wonderful, because they had had such difficulty to get me to eat before. Then when they dressed the wounds on my hip every morning I used to scream so, some of the servants went where they could not hear me. In only one week I lost all the pain and I did not cry at all, and very soon one by one the wounds healed.
human
It was very remarkable, dear. But do you associate your healing with the book which Uncle Raymond has taken away?
gpt
Why, Auntie, _Science and Health_ is the Key to the Bible, and the Bible is the ’tree whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.’ But people have not understood until they had that Key how to go to the Bible for healing. Cousin Alicia understood; that was why she was able to heal me.
human
What you say seems very strange, Carol. If Uncle had not taken the book away, I should have liked to look into it. I expect he would refuse if I asked him to let me read it.