"Jesus Christ never seemed to care about externals," said Evadne softly. "He chose his friends among the common people." "For pity's sake, Evadne!" cried Isabelle. "When will you learn that the Bible is not to be taken literally?" "Not to be taken literally!" echoed Evadne in wonderment. "How is it to be taken then?" "Isabelle means that we have to make allowances," said her aunt. "Christ could do a great many things that you cannot." Evadne was silent, while the words of Jesus kept ringing in her ears: "For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you." If only she could understand! "By the way, Evadne," said Mrs. Hildreth, "I beg you will not repeat your mistake of yesterday." "What do you mean, Aunt Kate?" "Bringing such a disreputable character into the house. When I came in and found her sitting in the hall and you talking to her I was perfectly paralyzed. Horrible! Why her rags were abominable, and her feet were bare!" "But she had no shoes, Aunt Kate, and she was just my height. I was so glad that my clothes would fit her." "A pretty thing to have your clothes paraded through the streets by such a creature! Most likely she would pawn them for gin. I am sure she was an improper character." "But, Aunt Kate," pleaded Evadne, "Jesus Christ says we must clothe the naked and feed the hungry if we would be his followers. I must do as he tells me for I am going to follow him." "Your uncle does enough of that for the family," said her aunt coldly. "I do not wish you to try any such experiments again." Puzzled and chilled, Evadne left the room. Was obeying the commands of Christ only an "experiment" after all? She crept up to her favorite retreat and threw herself upon her gayly covered couch. "Oh, Jesus Christ!" she cried passionately, "I am _glad_ I did not live in Galilee when you were there! Aunt Kate and Isabelle would have thought it bad form for me to follow you in the crowd where the sinners were. But they can't keep me from doing so now! "Oh, I wish I were dead! No one would care. Yes, Pompey would be sorry. Louis would call it 'a sable attachment,' but Pompey loved my father. Oh, dearest! dearest!" She buried her head in her hands while wave after wave of desolation broke over the lonely soul. "A beautiful possibility" her knight of the gate had said. Could life become that to her? Downstairs Pompey began to sing,-- "Shall we meet beyond the river, Where the surges cease to roll, Where in all the bright forever Sorrow ne'er shall press the soul?" The rich vibrations rolled up and trembled about her. She held out her arms and her voice broke in a cry of triumphant faith, "Yes, we _shall_ meet, Lord Jesus, face to face!" CHAPTER VIII. "Pompey," said Evadne one morning, "I am going to see your wife." The black face beamed with satisfaction. "Dyee'll be mighty uplifted, Miss 'Vadney. She think a powerful sight o' Mass Lennux."