with them all. The simple, natural way of life in the
minister's house suited him well, and his visit had been lengthened out
to four months, instead of four weeks, as was at first intended; and
now, as he lay thinking, he was saying to himself that he was very sorry
to go.

This last night he seemed to see more clearly than ever he had seen
before what made the difference between their manner of life here in his
uncle's house, and the life they lived at home. It was a difference
altogether in favour of their life here, though here they were poor, and
at home they were rich. The difference went deeper than outward
circumstances, and must reach beyond them--beyond all the chances and
changes time might bring.

And then he thought about all his aunt had said about "the good fight"
and "the whole armour," the great Leader, and the sure victory at last.
But strangely enough, and foolishly enough it seemed to him, his very
last thought was about Debby's going away; and before he had
satisfactorily computed the number of weeks' wages it would take to make
the sum which would probably be enough to purchase an overcoat, he fell
asleep, and carried on the computation in his dreams.

The next morning was not a very pleasant one to travel in. It was
cloudy and cold, and the ground was covered with snow. Mr Inglis had
intended to take Frank on the first stage of his journey--that was to
the railway station in D--, a town eleven miles away. But, as Jem had
foretold, the weariness which he had scarcely felt when he first came
home, was all the worse now because of that, and he had taken cold
besides; so David and Jem were to take his place in conveying their
cousin on the journey.

The good-byes were all said, and the boys set off. They did not mind
the cold, or the snow, or the threatening rain, but were well pleased
with the prospect of a few more hours together. The roads were bad, and
their progress was slow; but that mattered little, as they had the day
before them, and plenty to say to one another to pass the time. They
discussed trees and fruits, and things in general, after the fashion of
boys, and then the last stories of hunters and trappers they had read;
and in some way which it would not be easy to trace, they came round to
Hobab and the battles he might have fought, and then to "the whole
armour" and the warfare in which it was intended to aid them who wore
it.

"I wish I understood it all better," said