The car had thinned out a good deal by this time; people dropping off at one and another station, getting to their homes as the night drew on, and there were many vacant seats: here two together, and there one by somebody else. Mr. Wayne paused a moment, looking down the car, and from under his straw hat Magnus watched him, with a vague longing that he would come and sit by him.
That is a wonderfully lovely glimpse of unseen things, in one of the chapters of the book of Daniel, where one angel says to another, "Run, speak to that young man." I suppose Mr. Wayne was conscious of no audible monition; but after that moment's pause, he stepped down the car, past one and another tempting "whole" seat, and took his place by young Charlemagne Kindred.
IV
READY FOR DUTY
The man that wants me is the man I want.
—Dr. Edward Payson.
"This seat is not engaged? You are not expecting a companion?" the stranger said as he sat down.
"No, sir, I have nobody to expect," said Magnus, his tone making the answer broader than the question.
"Nobody to expect?" Mr. Wayne repeated the words, then went on softly to himself, yet just so that Magnus caught the sound, "'My soul, wait thou upon God, for my expectation is from him.'"
"Where does this train stop for supper?" he said abruptly, after a minute or two.
"They had supper at Beaver Junction."