’What if you have to bear something for the Master’s sake?  What if you have to give up friends or comforts for Him?  What if you have to take up your cross and follow Him?  It is only for a few days, only for a little while, and home is coming.  “Where I am, there shall also My servant be.”  Is it not worth while?’

Then, as he ended, he spoke a few words to all who were there, and he begged those who were not servants of Christ, to consider what they were losing.  ‘All this might be yours,’ he said, ’the wide-open gates, the Heavenly City, the seat on the glorious Throne; but you are turning your backs on it all, and you are choosing instead—­what?  A few of earth’s fleeting pleasures, a little of this world’s passing enjoyment.  Oh, dear friends, think before it is too late, what your eternal loss will be!’

He said much more, but I cannot remember it now.  I only know that I came away feeling that I had been very near the golden gates of which he spoke, and had heard the Master’s voice saying to me, ’Where I am, there shall also My servant be.’

The tide was coming in as we left the service, and I was standing on the shore watching the waves rolling in over the rocks, when I felt an arm slipped in mine, and when I looked round, to my great surprise, I found that it was Tom.

‘Why, Tom!’ I said, ‘back already? how early you have come home!’

‘Back, Jack?’ he said, laughing; ‘why, I’ve never been.’

‘Do you mean you haven’t been to Scarborough?’

’No, of course not; you didn’t think I would go without you, old boy.  We’ll go to-morrow, of course.  I thought we settled that last night.’

‘Why, I’ve been thinking of you in Scarborough all day!’ I said.

‘Then your thoughts have gone in a wrong direction for once, Jack,’ he replied, ‘for I’ve been here all the time.’

‘I’ll walk with you up the hill,’ I said; ‘it isn’t quite dinner-time.’

I was very pleased to see him, and to find that he did not appear to be vexed with me.  We chatted for some time, and then he said casually, ’He does not speak badly, that lay preacher of yours, Jack.’

I stood still in astonishment.  ‘Who?’ I said, ’Mr. Christie?  Why, you surely were not at the service, Tom!  Oh, I know,’ I cried, before he could answer, ’you were behind the bank; I saw a black and white cap, and I thought how much it was like yours.’

‘It could not be much more like, seeing that it was the very same,’ said Tom.

‘I’m so glad you heard him,’ I ventured to say.

He made no answer, so I thought it was better to say no more; but when we reached the top of the hill, and he was just leaving me, he said: 

’Jack, I’m afraid I was a bit crusty last night.  You must not think any more of it, old fellow.  We’ll have a jolly day at Scarborough to-morrow.  And, Jack,’ he went on, ’I was very much annoyed at the time, I own I was; but I’m not sure after all that you’re not right.’