have been sent to help you! The Christ-principle will save you! There
is nothing beyond its reach, not even your problem!

"It is a problem, that's all, Sidney," she went on, as he became
calmer. "And I have the solution. Will you put yourself in my charge,
in my care, and let me meet it for you?" She bent over him and looked
eagerly into his drawn face.

"We are not going to fight," she continued. "We are not going to
resist evil as the world does, and so make it real. I know, dear, just
how pressing your need is. I know, and I understand. I know how
awfully real it seems to you. But trust me, as I trust the Christ. For
_victory is inevitable_!"

For a few moments they sat together, hand in hand. The boy seemed to
have been stunned. Then Carmen rose. "Come," she said. "I am going to
take you home with me. I am going to keep you right with me, right
under my thought. I'm going to be the mirror, constantly with you,
that reflects infinite love to you every moment. Come; your problem is
mine now. The burden of proof rests upon me. Don't think of anything
else now, excepting that God has your hand and is leading you."

She took his arm and drew him, unresisting, yet uncomprehending, to
the door. As she opened it, she looked up into his face and smiled.
The boy choked, and turned back.

"No!" she cried, shifting her grasp to his hand. "No; you are mine
now! And I shall not turn you over to yourself again until the problem
is solved!"

Hitt met them as they came out of the room. "Well," he said, "I've
kept Madam Beaubien informed as well as I could. But she's been
worried. Where are you going?"

"Home," she said simply. "We'll be back at three--perhaps."

* * * * *

But at three that afternoon the Beaubien telephoned to Hitt that
Carmen would not be down.

"She will not leave the boy," the woman said. "She holds him--I don't
know how. And I know he is trying desperately to help her. But--I
never saw any one stand as she does! Lewis is here, but he doesn't
interfere. We're going to put a bed in his room, and Sidney will sleep
there. Yes, I'll keep you informed. Tell Ned, won't you?"

Haynerd stormed; but the tempest was all on the surface. "I know, I
know," he said, in reply to Hitt's explanation. "That boy's life is
more to her than a million newspapers, or anything else in the
universe just at present. She'll win! The devil can't look her in the
face! I--I wish I were