"No," she said, looking into his face with a sudden radiance in her own, "but the Man of Galilee." And so the talk drifted, talk where each one could be himself and speak out of his innermost heart, and not be misunderstood. So blessed is friendship of the higher sort. The day passed and the morrow dawned. Then David Bright journeyed eastward again, to minister to the world's unfortunate ones. He left behind him in Gila an influence that men speak of to this day. But to no one, probably, did his coming mean more than to John Harding. John's transformation was now complete. He became the self-appointed evangelist to numbers of unfortunate and tempted men. He had risen in the scale of life, and had become a Man! CHAPTER XV SOME SOCIAL EXPERIENCES One evening about the middle of February, Kenneth Hastings called at the Clayton home. After a few moments of general conversation, he turned to Mrs. Clayton and begged to be excused from his engagement to accompany them to Box Canyon. "Oh, Mr. Kenneth," protested Edith. "I am sorry, Edith," he said, turning to her, "but I leave to-morrow for England." "For England!" ejaculated Esther in astonishment; for she knew that a visit to England had been remote from his thoughts the last time she had talked with him. "Nothing wrong at home, I hope, Kenneth?" said John Clayton, kindly. "My uncle cabled me that my parents were killed in an accident. It is imperative that I go at once." He paused. John Clayton reached over and laid a hand on his arm. Mrs. Clayton spoke a few words of sympathy; but Esther Bright sat silent. How she had urged him to make his parents a visit! How he had rebuffed her, saying they cared nothing for him! She remembered his saying that he had always been starved for a mother's love. Too late now to give or to receive. She felt Kenneth looking at her, expecting her to say some word. She seemed suddenly dumb. At last she heard him speak her name. He hesitated, then continued: "I wish I had gone when you suggested it, Miss Bright." He bowed his head upon his hand. "I wish you _had_ gone," she said, simply. "It might have been a comfort to you." After awhile he spoke cheerfully of his return, and of what they would do. "Don't let Miss Bright work too hard," he said, smiling gravely. "She does enough work for five men." "I shall miss your help," was all she said. But she felt a sudden longing to comfort him. Into her face flashed a look of sympathy. He knew it was for him. "It almost makes me homesick, Kenneth, to hear you talk of going home," said Mrs. Clayton. "England always will seem home to me," she added, turning to Esther. "It is a beautiful country to call home," responded the New England girl. "I love England." They talked till late, Kenneth receiving message after message from them to kindred and friends across the sea.