Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world."

Their hearts burned at the love that longed for them to be with Him and
to see His glory. And they should see it! The distant scene glowed
with reality and seemed near. There was One with them whom they did
not see, One who still draws near when loved disciples commune
concerning Him, and it was He who made the Scriptures an open, radiant
page. Very pure and fragrant was the spiritual air they breathed then,
and it prepared them to judge of baser atmosphere. "Sanctify them
through Thy truth," the Lord Jesus had asked, and as they pondered the
Word of Truth the answer to His prayer began.

When they finished their reading Winifred surprised Hubert by what
seemed an irrelevant remark.

"I do not think I shall go to Mrs. Butterworth's party, Hubert," she
said.

Her brother had no need to add, "Nor shall I," for he was not a society
man. But he looked at her inquiringly.

"I don't know why," she replied to his look, "but it seems very
different from this. Don't you think so?"

"I do indeed," he answered, understanding what she meant by "this."

Winifred had not arrived at analytical reasons, but had intuitively
reached a conclusion. Just a mental picture of the coming brilliant
event at Mrs. Butterworth's; the gay scene, the intoxicating music, the
hollow courtesies, flattering words and glances, the dancing--just an
instant vision of the scene that arose in sheer contrast against the
pure holiness of the things they had been considering, and Winifred
turned from it quickly. To have spoken her impression, and Hubert's
evident approval, helped her to hold to it in later hours of temptation.

The Japanese gong sounded musically for Sunday evening tea before they
were aware that time had flown. They assembled with their elders who
looked not so much refreshed by their slumbers as our young friends by
their study. The repast over, Hubert, who wished to do all things
required of a Christian, but who felt a secret repugnance to listening
again to Doctor Schoolman, sounded Winifred's mind on the matter.

"Are you going to hear Doctor Schoolman?" he asked.

"Why, I suppose so," said she. "What else should one do?"

"What is he going to preach about?" he asked evasively.

"I don't know. Let's look in the paper and see."

So they found Saturday's paper and saw that this evening was to have
the first of a series of discourses on "Poets and Their Teaching