His wife brought up two letters.  One of them was from his old chum; he read that first.  He then laid it down and opened the other.

At that moment Mrs. Strong was called downstairs by a ring at the door.  When she had answered it she came upstairs again.

As she came into the room, she was surprised at the queer look on Philip’s face.  Without a word he handed her the letter he had just opened, and with the same look, watched her face as she read it.

CHAPTER XVII.

The letter which Philip had received, and which his wife now read, was as follows: 

Rev.  Philip strong,

Pastor Calvary Church, Milton: 

Dear sir and brother:—­The Seminary at Fairview has long been contemplating the addition to its professorship of a chair of Sociology.  The lack of funds and the absolute necessity of sufficient endowment for such a chair have made it impossible hitherto for the trustees to make any definite move in this direction.  A recent legacy, of which you have doubtless heard, has made the founding of this new professorship possible.  And now the trustees by unanimous vote, have united upon you as the man best fitted to fill this chair of Sociology.  We have heard of your work in Milton and know of it personally.  We are assured you are the man for this place.  We therefore tender you most heartily the position of Professor of Sociology at Fairview Seminary at a salary of twenty-five hundred dollars a year and a preliminary year’s absence, either abroad or in this country, before you begin actual labors with the Seminary.

With this formal call on the part of the trustees goes the most earnest desire on the part of all the professors of the Seminary who remember you in your marked undergraduate success as a student here.  You will meet with the most loving welcome, and the Seminary will be greatly strengthened by your presence in this new department.

We are, in behalf of the Seminary,

Very cordially yours, the trustees.

Here followed their names, familiar to both Philip and his wife.

There was a moment of astonished silence and then Sarah said:—­

“Well, Philip, that’s what I call the finger of Providence!”

“Do you call it the finger of Providence because it points the way you want to go?” asked Philip, with a smile.  But his face instantly grew sober.  He was evidently very much excited by the call to Fairview.  It had come at a time when he was in a condition to be very much moved by it.

“Yes, Philip,” replied his wife, as she smoothed back his hair from his forehead, “it is very plain to me that you have done all that any one can do here in Milton, and this call comes just in time.  You are worn out.  The church is opposed to your methods.  You need a rest and a change.  And besides, this is the very work that you have always had a liking for.”