’ “The loss of all things!” ’ Hazel repeated, bewildered.  ’How do you do, Mr. Rollo?—­Dr. Maryland, there is always some special reason why I am especially glad to see you!’

‘What is the reason now, my dear?’ said the doctor, with a very benign look on his face.

‘These two people,’ said Wych Hazel, with an airy gesture of her head towards her other guests, ’find me in a puzzle and push me further in.  And I want to be pulled out.’

‘In what direction shall I pull?’ asked the doctor.

’Well, sir,—­O Mr. Rollo, don’t you want the cat?—­I know you like cats,’ said Hazel, ’and she is in my way.—­It is only about my old picture here, Dr. Maryland, which they pretend to understand.  Dr. Arthur says it means “the loss of all things,”—­and that does not clear up my ideas in the least.  Why must I “wait” to know what it means?’ she added, linking her hands on the Doctor’s arm, and raising her eager, vivid face to his.  ’Prim says I “don’t know much”—­but I do not see why that should hinder my learning more.’

How strong the contrast with the martyr’s face! how high and still and calm the look of him who had overcome!  How tender, how open to sorrow, how susceptible of loss, that of the girl on whom as yet the rough winds had not blown!  Dr. Arthur’s eyes went soberly from one to the other.  Rollo had taken the little cat from its position on its mistress’s shoulder, and now stood with it established on his own, quietly and somewhat gravely attending to what was going on.

‘What do you want to learn, my dear?’ said Dr. Maryland, on his part gazing at the picture now.

‘That picture always perplexes me,’ said Hazel.  ’What does it mean?  And why do I love it so much, not knowing what it means?’

Standing and looking at the picture, Dr. Maryland answered in the words of Paul:  ’ “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ’

‘But papa,’ said Primrose, ’that doesn’t tell her what it means.  Didn’t Arthur say right—­“The loss of all things"?’

‘It means,’ said Dr. Maryland,—­’Human weakness and God’s strength.  Human emptiness and God’s fulness.  Earthly defeat and heavenly victory.  How should you understand it, my dear, who have not begun the fight yet?’

‘But then, papa, why does she love it so much?’

Dr. Maryland hesitated, and it was Rollo who answered: 

‘Because the fight is in her.’

‘That’s a queer way of putting it,’ said Dr. Maryland; ’but perhaps it’s true.  I hope it is.’

The girl gave a swift look over her shoulder which it is to be hoped Mr. Rollo liked, as it was meant for him.  So sparkling with the joy of being understood, so stirred with that sudden new life and purpose which appreciation wakes up in some natures.  It was but an instant—­then her eyes came back to Dr. Maryland, and were all quiet again. He did not think so, evidently.  Which was right?  Of what did he doubt her capable?