This, of course, was Gracie Dennis.
Mr. Roberts looked from her to his wife,—his face smiling, curious, yet with a sort of at-rest expression.
“What do you hope to accomplish, Flossy?” He asked the question as one who was pleased to watch a new experiment, yet felt sure that the experimenter had an end to attain which would justify any measures that she might take. Mr. Roberts had believed in his wife when he chose her from all others; but he was learning to believe in her in a peculiar sense, as one led by a hand that made no mistakes.
She turned to answer his question; her face bright, yet half puzzled:—
“I am not sure that I can explain to you what I hoped for,” she said; “I caught the idea from Mr. Ried.”
“From me!” and the young man thus mentioned looked so astonished and incredulous that Gracie laughed.
“He is sure he never thought of anything so wild,” she said, gayly. “Flossy, you must find a better excuse than that.”
“Yet it was something that he said. Do you remember telling me, not long ago, about your sister's idea that all the world had lost its place because of sin; that God intended everything here to be beautiful, and all life to be bright with joy, and that Satan had gotten hold of men's lives, and was trying to ruin them, and that every beautiful creation was God's picture to the world of what his intention had been? I'm telling it poorly; but it made a very deep impression. This girl's face, you know, is beautiful. It is what God meant some faces to be; at least, I mean he has given her the frame for a face of beauty. I have a vague, half-understood sort of wish to give her a glimpse of harmony; something that will fit her golden hair and lovely complexion; and see what she will think of God's idea, and whether she will understand that it is sin which has spoiled it, and whether she is willing to serve the author of her ruin. I don't believe I am making myself plain, but I know what I mean, at least.”
“If we do not, I think it must be because you have caught a thought from God, that we are not able to reach up to.”
It was Mr. Roberts who made this reply. Something in his wife's experiment had deeply moved him.