I came home one day more dispirited than usual. I had found Mrs. Le Grande weaker than ever, and yet she was clinging tenaciously to life, and had that morning dictated an order to her dress-maker in New York for a most elaborate costume. When I tried to urge her to think of something more enduring than the raiment whose fashion and beauty soon changes, she forbade me mentioning such a thing again in her presence, nor would she listen to the Scripture reading on which I always insisted as the one condition on which I would read to her at all. I knew my own words were powerless to break the crust of worldliness and selfishness that bound her heart, but I hoped God's word might pierce it. Hubert had returned from college a few days before, and just as I entered the oak avenue from the little footpath through the wood, I met him cantering along on Faery. "A stranger has just arrived whom you will be surprised to see," he called to me. "Any one I know?" I asked carelessly. "I should say it was; and one whom you will be glad to see, if I am not mistaken." "Won't you tell me who it is and so prolong my pleasure, for I am not going direct to the house. I intend taking a stroll through the garden to try and get some unhappy fancies brushed away by the blossoms." "Anticipation is said to exceed realization, so I will generously leave you the former," he said, giving Faery the whip and cantering rapidly away. I did not find the flowers such comforters as I hoped, and soon entered the house, no doubt slightly impelled thereto by a natural curiosity as well. I glanced into the drawing-room and parlors as I passed along the hall and began to think Hubert was merely subjecting me to one of his practical jokes, as I could see no sign of visitors anywhere, and I concluded to go to the library and try for a while to forget myself and heartaches in an hour's hard reading. I found the door ajar and when I entered the room was surprised to find the curtains drawn, and the room flooded with the June sunshine. I turned to the study-table to see who might be taking such liberties in the master's absence when there, standing with his back to me stood Mr. Winthrop himself. He turned suddenly and saw me. "Ah, little one, have you come to speak to me?" "I did not know you were here; but I am very glad to speak to you--to welcome you home," I said, giving him my hand. "You seem like one come back to me from the dead," he said, soberly, still holding my hand. "I am not sure if it was not you who held me back from those shining gates." "What do you mean?" "When you held my hand through that long night, I thought but for your firm grasp I should drift out of reach of life altogether." "I tried to pray that night, Medoline, as I had never done before; I believe my prayers were answered." "Then you have found that the Bible is true?" I asked, looking up eagerly into his face. "Yes, every day more clearly."