"That will do, nicely," responded Tom. "I must go back to New York to-morrow, as I have but four days absence. The captain has not yet been to see his family, and wants me to take charge of the ship while he is absent; but I will run up in two weeks, and spend that Sunday with you." The next evening George, Betsy, and Ray sat in the parlor of the little cottage, talking over Tom's return home, and the evidence he gave of a change of life. "Every one of us has been led to Jesus," remarked George. "Father, Dick, and all the living. We began with you, Ray; and who would have thought then that the result would now be what it is? What is the lesson we are to learn from it?" "That God will surely answer the prayer of faith," said Betsy. "Yes," assented George, "and I think we are also taught that nothing is impossible unto God. What do you think, Ray?" "That we as a family illustrate the unlimited mercy of God," he reverently answered. CHAPTER XXII. THE LAST YEAR AT EASTON. When Ray reached Clinton Academy, he found a note awaiting him from the merchant whose deformed son he taught. It simply requested that he should call at the merchant's place of business as soon as possible after his arrival. So, early in the afternoon, Ray went down to the city. He found the merchant in his office, and was received with some show of cordiality. "I am glad to find you have returned, Mr. Branford," he said, "and have sent for you to see if you would be willing to take another scholar in addition to my son. I have a widowed sister, who has now returned to Easton and will make my house her home. She has a daughter but two months younger than my boy, who is a cripple; was made so by the same accident that deformed her cousin. By the way, has Louis ever told you how he came to be deformed?" "No, sir," Ray answered. "I have purposely avoided asking him anything about it. I knew he was extremely sensitive, and so have tried to draw his thoughts away from his deformity, and teach him to believe that the all important thing is a beauty of soul."