"Is it?" "Certainly." "But, Basil, it never seemed so." "There was a reason for that. 'As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.' You were not thirsty, that is all." "Basil," said Diana, almost tremulously, "I think I am now." "Well," said her husband tenderly, "you know who could say, and did say, 'If any man thirst, let him come unto ME and drink.' 'I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.'" That bringing together of need and supply, while yet Need does not see how it is to stretch out its hand to take the supply--how sharp and how pitiful it makes the sense of longing! Diana drooped her head till it touched Basil's arm; it seemed to her that her heart would fairly break. "But that doesn't mean"--she said, bringing out her words with hesitation and difficulty,--"that does not mean hunger of every sort?" "Yes." "Of earthly sorts, Basil? how can it? people's desires for so many things?" "Is there any limit or qualification to the promise?" "N-o; not there." "Is there anywhere else?" Diana was silent. "There is none anywhere, except the limit put by the faith of the applicant. I have known a person starving to death, relieved for the time even from the pangs of bodily hunger by the food which Christ gave her. There is no condition of human extremity for which he is not sufficient." "But," said Diana, still speaking with difficulty, "that is for some people." "For some people--and for everybody else." "But--he would not like to have anybody go to him just for such a reason." "He will never ask _why_ you came, if you come. He was in this world to relieve misery, and to save from it. 'Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out,' is his own word. He will help you if you will let him, Diana." Diana's head pressed more heavily against Basil's arm; the temptation was to break out into wild weeping at this contact of sympathy, but she would not. Did her husband guess how much she was in want of help? That thought half frightened her. Presently she raised her head and sat up. "Here is another verse," said her husband, "which tells of a part of my work. 'Go ye into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, _bid to the marriage_.'" "I don't understand"-- "'The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son,'--it means rather a wedding entertainment." "How, Basil?" "The Bridegroom is Christ. The bride is the whole company of his redeemed. The time is by and by, when they shall be all gathered together, all washed from defilement, all dressed in the white robes of the king's court which are given them, and delivered from the last shadow of mortal sorrow and infirmity. Then in glory begins their perfected, everlasting union with Christ; then the wedding is celebrated; and the supper signifies the fulness and communion of his joy in them and their joy in him."