His wife was reluctant to speak.  But her true heart made answer:  “No, Philip, you have interpreted Him so faithfully.  You may have made mistakes; all ministers do; but I honestly believe you have preached as Christ would preach against the great selfishness and hypocrisy of this century.  The same thing would have happened to him.”

They talked a little longer, and then Philip said:  “Let us go down and see the Brother Man.  Somehow I feel like talking with him.”

So they went downstairs and into the room where the invalid was sitting with the old man.  William was able to walk about now, and had been saying that he wanted to hear Philip preach as soon as he could get to church.

“Well, Brother Man,” said Philip, with something like his old heartiness of manner, “have you heard the news?  Othello’s occupation’s gone.”

The Brother Man seemed to know all about it.  Whether he had heard of it through some of the church people or not, Mrs. Strong did not know.  He looked at Mr. Strong calmly.  There was a loving sympathy in his voice, but no trace of compassion or wonder.  Evidently he had not been talking of the subject to any one.

“I knew it would happen,” he said.  “You have offended the rulers.”

“What would you do, Brother Man, in my place?  Would you resign?” Philip thought back to the time when the Brother Man had asked him why he did not resign.

“Don’t they ask you to?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think it is the wish of the whole church?”

“No, there are some who want me to stay.”

“How do you feel about it?” The Brother Man put the question almost timidly.  Philip replied without hesitation: 

“There is only one thing for me to do.  It would be impossible for me to remain after what has been done.”

The Brother Man nodded his head as if in approval.  He did not seem disturbed in the least.  His demeanor was the most perfect expression of peace that Philip ever saw.

“We shall have to leave Milton, Brother Man,” said Philip, thinking that possibly he did not understand the meaning of the resignation..

“Yes, we will go away together.  Together.”  The Brother Man looked at his son and smiled.

“Mr. Strong,” said William, “we cannot be a burden on you another day.  I am able to get out now, and I will find work somewhere and provide for my father and myself.  It is terrible to me to think how long we have been living on your slender means.”  And William gave the minister a look of gratitude that made his heart warm again.

“My brother, we will see to that all right.  You have been more than welcome.  Just what I shall do, I don’t know, but I am sure the way will be made clear in time, aren’t you, Brother Man?”

“Yes, the road to heaven is always clear,” he said, almost singing the words.

“We shall have to leave this house, Brother Man,” said Sarah, feeling with Philip that he did not grasp the meaning of the event.