"I must be off now," he said. "Just six more calls to make this afternoon and then I suppose I'll find a number waiting for me at the Parish house when I return." He smiled a happy smile of genial importance, and after the usual hearty hand-shakes was gone.
Aunt Emily hid her disappointment in John's behavior by a quiet exit.
Now alone with her father, Venna drew her chair close to his and laid her small hand on his big, strong one.
He turned his gaze affectionately upon her.
"A little child shall lead them," he thought, but did not say. After all, it was wiser for Venna not to rely too much upon her own discernment.
"Girlie," he said aloud, "don't be governed too much by appearances. As Dr. Hansom says, you might go woefully adrift in your judgements."
"But, Daddy, don't you think that young preacher was sincere?" she persisted.
"I don't think about it, dear," he returned practically. "He might be or he might not be. Just leave all questionable people alone and stick to your Church, which you know is about as good as you'll find these days."
And so the subject was dismissed, but when Venna returned to her room she took the tracts and carefully put them in a drawer which held her special treasures.
"I know he is God's man," she said softly, as she laid them away.