Saturday no letter came. All the forenoon Grace tried to do her duty by saying her denials and affirmations while Kate was out giving lessons, but she seemed so stupid and felt so cross that in despair she resorted to her painting, but only succeeded in spoiling the picture she had spent hours and days upon before. When Kate came in at the usual hour, feeling so gay and light-hearted that she scarcely knew how to contain herself, she was astonished to hear Grace say:
"Oh, I am glad you have come at last! Such a day as I have spent! Thought I'd have so much extra time while you were gone to give Millie's lesson, and here I've wasted the whole afternoon and spoiled my 'shipwreck' besides, and I'm in a villainous humor. Now, I'm going to pour it all out on your innocent head." She smiled grimly, as she tossed her painting apron aside and spitefully turned the picture to the wall.
"What in the world ails you, Grace?" cried the astonished Kate. "Have you lost your senses? I was congratulating myself coming home on the good time we would have again to-night."
"I anticipated it so vividly this morning I could hardly wait, but really, Kate, I feel ugly, and perhaps it would be as well not to talk to me. I will go out for a little walk, while you get the tea," and she went forthwith.
A tumult raged within her that she had not conquered. One moment filled with the most exhilarating sense of freedom and joy, the next the direst disgust with herself and her failings; one moment clearly understanding the many problems that had come up for solution the past week, and the next with no ability to reason about anything. This had been going on all day. She had even felt unreasonably irritable because Kate had so quickly overcome her prejudices. What right had she to give away her own for some one else's opinions so easily?
Grace gave her glove an impatient twitch as she thought of it, but the next instant she wished she, too, might be as childlike and receptive as her companion.
To Kate the Bible was final, unquestioned authority; to Grace it was a corroboration, not a foundation. It was more interesting, she must confess, than ever before, but then she must have better reasons than had yet appeared for taking it as Kate did.
After all, perhaps this religion was but another mirage that had come into her moral vision, as many another had come in all the years she had been seeking truth and happiness. Happiness! Had she forgotten that for two years that word had been dropped from her vocabulary? That she had resolved to live on the best intellectual food the world could offer, without tasting its heart viands? She walked on with an unwonted energy. No, she would not be deceived; the best and sweetest in life was not for her, but she ought at least, to help poor little Kate.
It was a calm, quiet evening. The sun was just disappearing over the distant hills. The sky was radiant with delicate pink and blue tints. She was walking toward the east, when, glancing at the scene in front of her, she saw what seemed to be a brilliant fire, not only in one place but in many. Somewhat startled, she looked more closely and discovered every window ablaze with the sun's reflected glory. Like a flash it came: "I am walking away from the glory of Truth. Oh! how shall I turn my face to God?" she cried, with unspeakable yearning.
An agony of suspense seized her. She looked up at the calm, beautiful sky, and its rays of radiance seemed to send down upon her a benediction of peace. Like a soft whisper the words, "Lo, I am with you always," fell upon her ear. Blessed words that filled her with a new-born awe, but they brought a realizing sense of ever-present nearness of Truth, such as she had never had before, and she was so filled with peace that all the world looked like a new world. The turbulent waves of doubt and unrest had been divinely stilled.