distance
along the bank of a lake, until coming to a graveled road and following
its meandering course, they returned to the Northfield mansion.

Next day was the Sabbath. Oswald attended the parish church with Sir
Donald and Esther.

Having from early childhood felt the restraints of religious training,
Oswald yielded to the sweet solemnity of the hour. Though his
controlling aspirations, in their uncurbed impetuosity and youthful
conceit, were little consciously tinged with the higher sentiments of
ethical teaching, yet Christian principles were entitled to unquestioned
homage. Feeling slight commendation for that meek attitude of majestic
patience, "led like a lamb to the slaughter," he thrilled at sight of an
heroic warrior figure, clad in royal Bozrah-vintage-tinted purple, with
powerful victor tread, returning from "Edom" conquest. There was not
much of "comeliness" in the "marred face" of an unresenting Christ, but
how fascinating the autocratic, prophet-painted, empire-inscribed pose
of Redemption's Champion, clad in ermine of final decree, alternately
welcoming his ancient "Elect," and with awful leftward gesture upon
countless millions pronouncing the changeless judgment of "Depart."

Esther's lips quivered with sympathetic emotion at the divine tenderness
for human despair. In the miracles she saw heavenly interposition to
relieve earthly want. Barley loaves, fish, and wine were for the hungry,
thirsty, ravenous crowd. Clay anointings were for the blind, quickened
ears for deaf mutes, leprous healings for diseased outcasts, and
recalled vital breath to pulseless mortality, responsive to human
prayer. Esther faintly comprehended the inexorable justice of final
judgment, but pitied poor, erring, bewildered, helpless human wanderers,
gravitating so swiftly and surely to drear, friendless caverns of
eternal night.

Afterward, in comment to Oswald and Esther, Sir Donald said:

"Is not patience royalty's most crucial test? How easy, kingly
assertion! How hard, autocratic forbearance! How little evidence of
omnipotence in vindictive wrath! Are not human weaknesses rightful
claimants to a divine protectorate? Are not the crowning glories of
these grand figures of Hebrew imagery in their pathetic antitypes? Is
not the progressive evolution of the ages more sublime than spontaneous
precocity? Restoring to normal functions ear, eye, and tongue is not so
miraculous as are continuous creations of auricular and visual