"Yes, Hubert," she said earnestly, "oh, yes!" But the color flickered in her cheeks and her lips grew white.
They stood for a moment together but neither spoke. Together they presented afresh their offering to God, and He knew that it was costly.
At breakfast neither spoke of the matter that was uppermost in their hearts. But later Hubert sought his father in the library and made known to him the step he had taken.
Grief, dismay, and almost anger, struggled in the older man's heart.
He looked at his son with sorrowful sternness.
"Then—then, Hubert," he said very slowly, "you have concluded to leave me."
A pang shot through Hubert's heart, keener than any thought of his own pain, but he answered steadily:
"I have concluded, father, to follow Christ."
Mr. Gray frowned. He was not conscious of frowning at the name of Christ, or at so pure a sentiment as that uttered, but grief made him insensible to what he did.
"And is that," he asked with some irony, "the only way you can find of following Him? Can no one follow Him at home?"
"I do not see that he can if he is called abroad, father."