of the
Gospel of Saint John, about the woman of Samaria, and what our Lord said
to her. But I never heard such reading in my life! I thought I could
have gone on listening to him all night. The only clergymen that I ever
heard read were Mr Bagnall and poor old Mr Digby, and the one always
read in a high singsong tone, which gave me the idea that it was nothing
I need listen to; and the other mumbled indistinctly, so that I never
heard what he said. But Mr Keith read as if the converse were really
going on, and you actually heard our Lord and the woman talking to one
another at the well. He made it seem so real that I almost fancied I
could hear the water trickling, and see the cool wet green mosses round
the old well. Oh, if clergymen would always read and preach as if the
things were real, how different going to church would be!

Then we knelt down, and Mr Keith prayed. It was not out of the
Prayer-Book. And I dare say, if I were to hear nothing but such
prayers, I might miss the dear old prayers that have been like sweet
sounds floating around me ever since I knew anything. But this evening,
when it was all new, it came to me as so solemn and so real! This was
not saying one's prayers; it was talking to one's Friend. And it seemed
as if God really were Mr Keith's Friend--as if they knew each other,
and were not strangers at all, but each understood what the other would
like or dislike, and they wanted to please one another. I hope I am not
irreverent in writing so, but really it did seem like that. And I never
saw anything like it before.

I suppose, to the others, it was an old worn-out story--all this which
came so new and fresh to me. When we rose up, Angus said, without any
pause,--

"Well! I am off to bed. Good-night, all of you."

Flora went up to him and offered him a kiss, which he took as if it were
a condescension to an inferior creature; and then, without saying
anything more to Mr Keith or me, lighted his candle and went away.
Flora sighed as she looked after him, and Mr Keith looked at her as if
he felt for her.

"I shall be glad to get him home," said Flora, answering Mr Keith's
look, I think. "If he can only get back to Father, then, perhaps--"

"Aye," said Mr Keith, meaningly, "it is all well, when we do get back
to the Father."

Flora shook her head sorrowfully. "Not that!" she answered. "O Duncan,
I am afraid, not that, yet! I feel such terrible fear sometimes lest he
sho