No sort of use to comfort herself with the thought that she talked of her peculiar views to no one; it began to be evident that the things which she did not do were more startling than the things which she did.

On the whole, no comfort came to her troubled soul through this morning session.  To herself she seemed precisely where she was when she went into that tent, only perhaps a trifle more impressed with the solemnity of all things.

But, without knowing it, a great stride had been taken in her education.  She was not again to be able to say:  “I injure no one with my belief; I keep it to myself.”  “No Man liveth to himself.”

The verse came solemnly to her as she went out, as though other than human voice were reminding her of it, and life began to feel like an overwhelming responsibility that she could not assume.  When one begins to feel that thought in all its force the next step is to find one who will assume the responsibility for us.  She met Ruth on her way up the hill.

“Flossy has deserted me,” Ruth explained as they met; “Eurie carried her away to take a walk.  Are you going to hear about John Knox?  I am interested in him chiefly because of the voice that is to tell of him to-day; I like Dr. Hurlburt.”

Marion’s only reply was:  “I don’t see but you come to meeting quite as regularly, now that you are at the hotel, as you did when on the grounds.”

Then they went to secure their seats.  I am not to attempt to tell you anything about the John Knox lecture; indeed I have given over telling more about the Chautauqua addresses.  It is of no sort of use.  One only feels like bemoaning a failure after any attempt to repeat such lectures as we heard there.  Besides, I am chiefly interested at present in their effect on our girls.

They listened—­these two, and enjoyed as people with brains must necessarily have done.  But there was more than that to it; there were consequences that will surely be met again at the last great day.

Ruth, as she walked thoughtfully away, said to herself:  “That is the way. Live the truth.  It is a different day, and the trials and experiences are different, but life must be the same.  It is not the day for half-way Christianity nor for idling; I will be an earnest Christian, or I will not dishonor the name and disgrace the memory of such men as Knox by claiming to be of their faith.”

While Marion, as she turned her flushed cheeks hastily away from Ruth, not willing to show one who knew nothing about this matter, save that it was expedient to join a church, had gotten one foot set firmly toward the rock.

“The power that enabled that man to live that life was certainly of God,” she thought.  “It must be true.  God must be in communication with some of the souls that have lived.  Is he now, and can I be one of them?  Oh, I wonder if there are a favored few who have shone out as grand lights in the world and have gone up from the world to their reward?  And I wonder if there is no such thing now?  If the blundering creatures who call themselves by his name are nothing but miserable imitations of what was once real?