"Well, do," assented Bessie eagerly, "and then you can find out for yourself what the difference is. I am sure Mrs. Waring will be pleased for you to come. I'll ask her." Bessie was quite relieved by this way of avoiding the explanation of "the difference." Thus it came to pass that another member was added to "Love's Hospital." Many a bright, merry hour did the lad spend there. "Have you found it out?" Bessie ventured to ask him after a while. "Of course I have, and you are pretty dense if _you_ haven't! Why, a mole could see it!" "Well, what is it?" "I believe you know as well as I do." "Of course I do; I haven't lived with her all these months for nothing." "Then you tell me," said Phill. "It is that God counts for something in Mrs. Waring's life," was the girl's straight answer. "H'm," said Phill, "I suppose that's it." "Yes," said Bessie, now quite brave once she had started, "and what she can't do, she leaves to Him, and knows it will be all right. You see, when once you get to that point, there's no need of flusters and worries." The boy did not answer, but turned thoughtfully away. Mrs. Marchant was not able to forget Phill's words; even when her resentment had worn off a little, they were there with haunting power. "I'd give a good deal to know what it is she has that I haven't!" she kept saying to herself, "for, oh dear, life at times seems unbearable! It can't be her religion exactly, for lots of religious people are just as worried as I am. What can it be, I wonder! I have a good mind to ask her straight out the next time I see her." She had not long to wait, for Phebe was on the look-out for another opportunity of getting close to her neighbour, and Mrs. Marchant, true to her resolution, put the question to her. Phebe's heart bounded with joy. How splendidly her way was being opened up! when,--was it of the Evil One, or was it of God?--that just at that moment Mr. Marchant should come into the room! There was no help for it but to again beat a retreat, but before doing so, she said: "Do come in some afternoon and have a cup of tea with me. You have never been in yet." "No, I have no time for visiting," was the abrupt answer. But when she got to the door with her visitor, she added, "Yes, I'll come." When Phebe reported progress to Nanna, that dear old body exclaimed: "Well, that's something to be thankful for! When a woman's got out of conceit with herself, and has an idea she'd like to be different to what she is, she is certainly on her way to Joseph's garden!" "Joseph's garden!" exclaimed Phebe; "you funny, old dear, what is that?" "Why, don't you know? Mary while at Bethany only listened to the Lord's message, and gave Him something; but when she got to Joseph's garden, she said, 'Master!' "But she had to go by the cross to get there!" CHAPTER XIX THE NEW CLUB-ROOM