The doctor’s perturbed state did not admit of his speaking to any one.  He longed for Margaret, and both loved and hated the little waif who unconsciously had so remarkably altered the affairs of the whole morning.  He had endeavored not to listen to the sermon, “fit only for children, and not for men possessed of a logical turn of mind,” he said to himself; but the more he tried, with the greater persistency did the ringing sentences surge through his aching brain.

“Well!” he exclaimed to his wife as soon as they were seated in their carriage, “Dr. Fairfax is a narrow-minded extremist, a fanatic.  What right had he to bring those street wanderers into the church this morning?  The place for them is down at the mission.  Do I not give liberally toward its support?  To be sure, such as they need the Gospel, but I want them to stay where they belong to get it.”

“But, my dear,” placidly remonstrated his wife, “there may be qualifying circumstances connected with all this which we do not understand.”

“Possibly, but scarcely probable anything to warrant such an unheard-of innovation!  The place for them is down at the mission, I say.

“And that sermon, if such it may be called!  I thought I was at a funeral.  There were hundreds of men there, who like myself went for something helpful and practical.  Who cares to discuss the heavenly city when our city down here is in the throes of a strike, threatening to paralyze business for weeks and months to come, and meaning the loss of millions of dollars, both directly and indirectly?”

“I know, dear, but the Father’s omnipotent hand of love will bring everything out right some day.  He has promised, and His promises never fail.  Is it not restful, and does it not make one more brave for the conflict, to know that there is an abiding city, at whose portals we leave earth’s sorrows and perplexities?”

“Yes, wife, I know, but we are living now upon this mundane sphere, and naturally our interests center here.  A belief in heaven does not straighten out affairs on earth, nor make the burdens any the lighter to bear.”

“I do not know about that, since Margaret has gone.  If I did not believe what Dr. Fairfax said this morning, my burden, at least, would be much heavier and harder to bear.  It does help to know that she is safe, and that I shall join her myself some day.”

“Oh, well, yes, of course, but then it’s different when it comes to Margaret!”

For several minutes they rode in silence, when the doctor said: 

“Wife, did you see that child’s eyes?”

“Yes, I saw them.”

“I wish—­well, we are home now!  Let me assist you from the carriage.”

In the meantime, grandpa and Rosa were having an experience very novel to them.

Upon discovering grandpa’s weak condition, a carriage had been ordered, the first one in which they had ever ridden.  Esther was quietly explaining to Rosa more of Jesus and His love for the children, while her receptive little soul was eagerly taking it all in.