“… But He cannot possibly do it, for each one must try for himself.⁠ ⁠… Only by trying does one get better. You yourself, ma’am, gave me a fairytale to read about a black hen which gave a magic hemp-seed to a boy who saved her life. As long as the seed was in his trouser-pocket, he knew all his lessons without learning them, and so this seed made him stop learning and quite lose his memory.⁠ ⁠… He, our Father, cannot take evil out of people; and they should not ask Him to do it, but they should pull it out⁠—wash it out⁠—tear it out of themselves!”

“Where has she got all this from?” thought her mistress, and said:

“All the same, Molly, you have not answered my question.”