"'And now, when the harvest was finished, and the farmer brought to the pastor what he had promised to give the Lord of the produce of the field, and then also the pastor's vow was made known to the farmer, the two fell upon their knees again and thanked the Lord for His goodness, because His mercy endureth for ever. Must not such gifts to the heathen go with God's special blessing resting upon them?'"
"Is that all?" said Maggie.
"That is all," said Meredith smiling.
"I do not know what to make of that story," said Flora.
"Why?"
"Storms come from natural causes."
"Oh, do they?" said Meredith. "You do not believe then what the psalm says—'He commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind'"——
"But that is poetry."
"So is this," said Mr. Murray,—"'Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters; or a way for the lightning of thunder; to cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein is no man; to satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?'"