Fenton dropped the subject, but renewed his proposal that they should return home. So shawls and worsted work were stored in the cart, and the little book in Meredith's pocket; and the line of march was taken up. It was indeed coming now to the lovely time of the day. Shadows long, lights glowing in warm level reflections, all objects getting a sunny side and a shady side, and standing forth in new beauty in consequence; the day gathering in its train, as it were, to prepare for a stately leave-taking by and by. Meredith and Maggie, loath to go, lingered the last of the party; indeed he had the cart to draw, which was heavy, and needed careful guiding in places over and between the rocks; and he could not run on with the heads of the party. And Maggie walked beside him, and put her little hand upon the handle of the cart which she could not help to draw. How sweet it was! The light every moment growing softer, not cooler; the colours more contrasted, as the shadows lengthened; the bugle notes coming over the water now and then. Meredith looked, and drew deep breaths of the delicious air; but Maggie walked along pondering. "Ditto," she began, "do you think _everybody_ ought to do mission work?" "The dear Lord did not give the charge to _some_ of His people, did He?" "But how can they do it? Everybody cannot go to the heathen?" "He said, 'in all the world'--so that means at home as well as abroad, doesn't it?" "Preach the gospel in all the world?" "Yes." "How can _I_, Ditto?" "You and I, let us say. Well, Maggie, suppose we ask Mr. Murray? But one thing is certain; those who stay at home must furnish the money for those that go." "Does it take a great deal?" "Not to send a few. But how long would a _few_ people be about telling the gospel to all the world? Suppose one man had as much as the whole State of New York for his parish?" "He'd never get through." "Exactly. And so it is nearly nineteen hundred years since the Lord gave the command; and the heathen world is the heathen world still--pretty much." "But, then, Ditto--to send a great many people, it would want a great deal of money." "It does. What then?" "Maybe people cannot afford it." "Let us ask Mr. Murray about that." "But, Ditto, what do _you_ think? I know you think something." "Maggie, I think we should seek _first_ the kingdom." They were turning into the shrubbery grounds near the house, and Maggie left the discussion. They were all ready for dinner, as far as appetite went, and in a little while the five young people sat down at the board. "This is jolly," said Fenton, who took the head of the table. "Roast-beef, to wit?" said Meredith. "Roast-beef is a good thing if you are hungry, as I am; but I did not mean that. It is uncommonly jolly to be out of the way of the governors." Maggie looked up astonished. "'Rulers are not a terror to good works,'" said Meredith. "They're a nuisance, though."