“Yes, yes, brother, true enough; but what’s the use?”

“Look here, once before, in your life, you felt as you do now; and you told me yourself that not until you said both in your heart and to God ‘Thy will be done’ did you get peace.  Try it again, brother.  There is no darkness but the Light of Christ can penetrate, there is no seeming evil but the Lord can turn to your good.  What did Job say of the Lord?”

“I don’t know.”

“‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.’  And you are not yet as Job.  He lost everything.  You have gained a father and a sister.  That, certainly, is something.”

“Yes, it is; and yet in the finding of these two, I have lost—­well—­you know—­”

“Yes; I know; but the Lord can even make that right.  Trust Him, trust Him, always and in everything.  That’s my motto for life.  I can not get along without it.”

“Thank you so very much.”

They talked for some time, then they went out for a walk.

“But you haven’t time to spend on me like this,” remonstrated Chester.

“I am here to do all the good I can, and why should my services not be given to those of the faith as well as to those who have no use for me nor my message?  Come along; I want to tell you of another letter which I received from home,—­yes, the twin calves are doing fine.”

Chester smiled, which was just what his companion wanted.  “You remain here today,” continued the elder.  “The boys will be in after a while, and then we shall have dinner.  After that, if you are still thinking too much of your own affairs, we’ll take you out on the street and let you preach to the crowd.”

“That might help,” admitted Chester.

“Help!  It’s the surest kind of cure.”

Chester remained with the elders during the afternoon and evening, even going out with them on the street.  He was not called on to preach, however, though he would have attempted it had he been asked.

Chester slept better that night.  He felt so sure of himself next morning that he could call on Lucy, and do the right thing.  He did not forget or neglect his prayers any more, and he was well on the way of saying again, “Thy will be done,” in the right spirit.

Uncle Gilbert met Chester at the door, not very graciously, however.  He replied to Chester’s inquiries sharply: 

“My brother is quite ill, brought about, I have no doubt, by your unwise actions of yesterday morning.  What was the matter with you?  I don’t understand you.”

Chester did not attempt any explanation or defense.

“And Lucy, too, was quite ill yesterday—­no; she is not up yet—­no; I don’t think you had better come in.  I shall not permit you to see my brother again until he is better.”

“I’m very sorry,” said Chester.  “I must see Lucy, however, and so I’ll call again after a while.”  He walked away.  He did not blame Uncle Gilbert, who was no doubt doing the best he knew, although somewhat in the dark.  He walked in the park for an hour and then came back.