“I do not think we have heard much about it,” said Hubert.  “I have not been much of a church-goer, but I think for the most part we have been talked to as though we were all on the same plane as regards relationship to God and Jesus Christ.”

“But this line is so very exclusive,” said Winifred almost regretfully.

“So very inclusive, you mean,” said Hubert, smiling.

“An inclusive line must be exclusive also, must it not?” she persisted.

“I suppose it must,” he admitted.  “The same walls that shut us in this house shut everybody else out.  But there is a way in,” he added, intent upon the doctrine of God’s free grace found true by his own experiment.

“Yes,” said Winifred, “’Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’  That gave me great comfort when I read it, Hubert.  But I was thinking now that if I had not come to know that I was outside, I should never have come inside.”

They finished the chapter, dwelling upon the words: 

“Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.”

Their hearts burned at the love that longed for them to be with Him and to see His glory.  And they should see it!  The distant scene glowed with reality and seemed near.  There was One with them whom they did not see, One who still draws near when loved disciples commune concerning Him, and it was He who made the Scriptures an open, radiant page.  Very pure and fragrant was the spiritual air they breathed then, and it prepared them to judge of baser atmosphere.  “Sanctify them through Thy truth,” the Lord Jesus had asked, and as they pondered the Word of Truth the answer to His prayer began.

When they finished their reading Winifred surprised Hubert by what seemed an irrelevant remark.

“I do not think I shall go to Mrs. Butterworth’s party, Hubert,” she said.

Her brother had no need to add, “Nor shall I,” for he was not a society man.  But he looked at her inquiringly.

“I don’t know why,” she replied to his look, “but it seems very different from this.  Don’t you think so?”

“I do indeed,” he answered, understanding what she meant by “this.”

Winifred had not arrived at analytical reasons, but had intuitively reached a conclusion.  Just a mental picture of the coming brilliant event at Mrs. Butterworth’s; the gay scene, the intoxicating music, the hollow courtesies, flattering words and glances, the dancing—­just an instant vision of the scene that arose in sheer contrast against the pure holiness of the things they had been considering, and Winifred turned from it quickly.  To have spoken her impression, and Hubert’s evident approval, helped her to hold to it in later hours of temptation.

The Japanese gong sounded musically for Sunday evening tea before they were aware that time had flown.  They assembled with their elders who looked not so much refreshed by their slumbers as our young friends by their study.  The repast over, Hubert, who wished to do all things required of a Christian, but who felt a secret repugnance to listening again to Doctor Schoolman, sounded Winifred’s mind on the matter.