"It is Mrs. Thornton's idea, Miss Vail," he said earnestly; "and it is one that I know will realize the Patriarch's dearest wish--to extend his sphere of helpfulness to others, to reach out to all who are stricken and have faith to come. I remember his writing that on the slate, which he used for conversation before his sight was completely taken from him. I remember the words as though they were before me now: 'I have dreamed often of a wider field, of reaching out to help the thousands beyond this little town--it would be wondrous joy.'" "Yes?" said Helena in a suppressed voice. "In a way," Madison went on gravely, "his dream is already realized. What has happened here this afternoon will in a few hours be known to the whole civilized world, and there will be no room for incredulity or doubt--on whatever ground people see fit to base their belief, they must still believe; and, believing, they will come here in ever increasing numbers--but this little village is totally inadequate to accommodate them. At first, yes, as I said to Mrs. Thornton; but afterwards--no. Mrs. Thornton's idea, Mr. Thornton's idea and my own, if I may say so, is to build and endow a great sanatorium that, in consonance with the Patriarch's ideals, shall be free to all--and we feel that the money for this purpose will come gladly and spontaneously, as it so appropriately should come, from those who find joy and peace and health again at the Patriarch's hands." Helena half rose from her chair, as she stole a veiled glance at Madison. "It would be wonderful," she said, with a little catch in her voice. "And he--it would be the one thing in the world for him. But--but it would take a great deal of money." "Yes," said Madison slowly; "at least half a million." Thornton turned toward Madison. "As much as that?" he asked tentatively. "I should say so," replied Madison thoughtfully. "You see, it's the endowment after all that is the most important. Say that the building and equipment cost only a hundred thousand, that would only leave an income, from the other four hundred thousand at six per cent., of twenty-four thousand dollars--not enough in itself even, but it would be augmented of course by the contributions that would still go on." Thornton nodded his head. "That is so," he agreed; "but there is the time to consider--it would take a long time to raise that amount." "No," said Madison. "A few months at the outside. Thornton"--he reached out and laid his hand impressively on the other's sleeve--we are not dealing with ordinary things here--we have witnessed this afternoon a sight that should teach us that. Here, in this very room, beside us now, your wife, that little boy, is evidence of power beyond anything we have ever known before. Have we not that same power to count on still? It would be an ingrate heart indeed that, owing all, returned nothing."