When she came of age Mary Bosanquet found herself mistress of her personal fortune, and more strongly than ever was she assured that she might do better work for God if she left her own home. Always afraid of moving before the Guiding Pillar, however, she feared exceedingly to take this step unless the express command were laid upon her.
One day her father asked for her solemn promise that she would not try to persuade her brothers to follow Christ.
“I am afraid I cannot promise that, father,” she replied.
“Then you will force me to put you out of the house,” was his rejoinder.
In preparation for whatever might follow, Mary took a lodging, and waited until she should be told to go, which quickly happened.
It was a pathetic departure. Before dinner a message reached her by a servant that she had better go to her lodging that night During the meal no word was said, and Mary’s heart was wrung by sorrowful questionings “How shall I go, if they say no more to me? How shall I bear it, if they never invite me to see them again?”
Dinner being at last concluded, and the carriage announced, Mrs. Bosanquet swept out into the hall, remarking casually to Mary as she passed by :—
“If you will, the coach, when it has set us down, may carry you home to your lodgings.”
“And we shall be glad to see you to dinner on Sunday,” added her father.
Mary choked and could not reply, but she quickly recovered sufficiently to order her trunk downstairs, and, when cloaked and hooded, she passed down the staircase, she found all the servants assembled in a row to bid her farewell with tears.