"Well, that certainly is the next best thing," said Jim, feeling considerably relieved, and with that understanding they parted. Nanna still went on with her darning. "You do not think I have done right, Nanna?" "No, I do not." "But it would not be possible for me to do such a thing." "God has opened a door for you, and you have put out your hand to close it." "Don't say that. You cannot be sure the door was meant for me; perhaps it is that I am to find some one; that is to be my share of the work." "Child, I have more faith in you than that, and I do not think that is the way God works." It struck Phebe just then how unfair she had been to Nanna in her thoughts; instead of feeling aggrieved she ought to have felt flattered that her old friend had such confidence in her abilities. It would not do to make any confession, but she put her arms round Nanna's neck and kissed her as though to atone for the wrong she had done. "Ah, dearie, you've stood to-night, I'm thinking," Nanna continued, "where Moses stood and where Jeremiah stood, and you've made the same excuses they did." Just then Phebe caught sight of the star. Did she hear over again the old command, "On whatsoever errand I shall send thee, thou shalt go"? If she did, she certainly made no answer. CHAPTER XVI THE CALL OF DEBORAH It was a long time that night before Phebe got to sleep. She had even found it difficult to pray; this she tried to attribute to the unrest Nanna had caused her. Over and over again did she return to Jim's request, and each time seemed to find a fresh obstacle; the distance was surely one great obstacle. She tried her level best to rest on the firm conviction the work was not hers, and then to consider how she was to make good her promise to find some one who _would_ feel called to do it. Would it be any good to appeal to the church? She shrank from that, remembering her late experience. What could she do! Did God intend to convince her the call was hers by making it impossible for her to find a substitute? All at once she remembered a committee had recently been formed in the town consisting of representatives from various bodies, to attend to certain social and religious wants of the district--the very thing needed! The first thing she would do when morning light appeared, would be to write to that committee, and with that restful thought she fell asleep. The letter was written and posted directly after breakfast, but not a word to Nanna did she say about it. What a delight it would be when she could all at once announce the fact that this important committee had received her suggestion with grateful thanks and were commencing work at once! This said committee happened to meet on the following day. Stephen Collins was a member of it. Mr. Bell, Bessie's superintendent, was the honorary secretary. Phebe's letter was the first to be read when the item "Correspondence" on the agenda was reached.