"But don't you feel that it is a great pity that Jenny and Herbert should bury themselves way off there?"
"I don't think it is a pity at all," returned Mrs. McNair, with earnestness. "It seems a grand field for labour. I am glad they are called to it. It seems that Nicholas has had his thoughts turned toward Herbert as their future minister almost ever since he went out there; but Herbert was quite decided about remaining at the East, until lately the indications of Providence have seemed so pointed that he could not refuse to go. The Lord seems to guide him by baffling his own plans, and shutting him up to one path."
"Ah! Mabel, you are just as queer as ever!"
"Queer, is she? Well, I wish we were all as queer!" The last speaker was Mr. Wynn, who had just entered. "I'd be glad to find the satisfaction in religion that you do, Mabel."
"Ah! Father, I am sure that if you looked there for satisfaction as earnestly as you do to the world, you would find it."
"Perhaps so. Well, I am going to retire from business next year; then I shall have time to pay more attention to religious matters."
Mabel did not reply, only smiled sadly, as she thought how persistently her father separated the things that ought to go together.
Presently Mrs. Wynn exclaimed,—
"Why, Mabel, what a company of ministers you'll have! Tom Nichols and Herbert and young Amesbury, besides Mr. Earle."
"Well, child," said Mr. Wynn, "you did pretty well to train up two preachers from that class."