"You cannot tell what I may be able to understand," he replied, "and I see that my duty lies in that direction. I have been seeking amongst the poor and wretched for a convert, and perhaps it is nearer home--your friend!" "I would not worry him in his distress," suggested Mattie anew. "Worry him!--Mattie, you shock me! Where's my Bible?--I'll go at once!" "We've got Bibles in the house, sir--we're not cannibals," snapped Ann. Cannibals and heathens were of the same species to Ann Packet. "Come on, then!" Mattie half rose, as if with the intention of accompanying her father, but he checked the movement. "I hope you will remain at home to-night, Mattie," he said; "I never like the house entirely left. It's not business." Mattie sat down again. She was fidgety at the result of this impromptu movement on her father's part, but saw no way to hinder it. Her father was a man who meant well, but well-meaning men would not do for Sidney Hinchford. Sidney had been well educated; his father was self-taught, and brusque, and Sidney had grown very irritable. In her own little conceited heart she believed that no one could manage Sidney Hinchford save herself. Late in the evening, Mr. Gray returned in excellent spirits, rubbing one hand over the other complacently. He had found a new specimen worthy of his powers of conversion. "Have you seen him?" asked Mattie. "To be sure--I went to see him, and he could not keep me out of the room, if I chose to enter. An obstinate young man--as obstinate a young man as I ever remember to have met with in all my life!" "Did he speak to you?" "Only twice, once to ask how you were. The second time to tell me that he did not require any preaching to. After that, I read the Bible to him for an hour, locking the door first, to make sure that he did not run for it, blind as he was. Then I gave him the best advice in my power, bade him good night, and came away. He is as hard as the nether millstone; it will be a glorious victory over the devil to touch his heart and soften it!" "You are going the wrong way to work. You do not know him!" "My dear, I know that he's a miserable sinner."