He had never enjoyed a meal so much, he thought idly—no, not even in the recent days of starvation in Whitechapel, when an unexpected windfall had provided him and Hampson with food.
Whitechapel! What a lifetime of experience had been his since those days! Wales, the mystical life with Lluellyn Lys—
A flush of shame and sorrow came over him. Why had he doubted even for a single moment the power and guidance of God! Had not the Holy Ghost been always with him—always, from the very first?
"O Lord," he cried, in his heart, "forgive Thine unworthy servant his weak doubts and fears! I know that Thou art with me, now, and forever more!"
He had concluded the short and unspoken prayer when he was startled by a voice.
He had not noticed that when the coffee-stall proprietor—an old man with snow-white hair, and large, horn-rimmed spectacles—had given him the coffee, he had returned to a large book he was reading.
Now Joseph looked round suddenly, and realized that the old fellow was saying the sentences aloud to himself.
"He shall call upon Me, and I will hear him; yea, I was with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and bring him to honour."
Joseph put down his pennies upon the counter. The answer to his prayer had come, once more God had spoken.
"Thank ye!" said the old man, in a strong Scotch accent. "I doot but I startled ye with me reading. I read aloud to my wife, who can nae mair see to read for hersel', and sae I've got in the way o't. But they're gran' words, lad."