than this--to many of the gay
company he was evidently a laughing-stock; a few of the more reckless
ones deliberately and openly made sport of him. Ben Phillips, who had
been cordial enough at first, found himself on the unpopular side, and
ignored the almost stranger for the remainder of the evening. In vain
did Mr. Birge try quietly to bring him inside the circle. Those of his
guests who were too cultured to make merry at the expense of this
foreign element which had come among them, yet seemed not to have
sufficient courage to welcome him to their midst; those with whom he sat
down frequently at the table of their common Lord seemed neither to know
nor to desire to know him here; and Mr. Birge's effort to assimilate the
different elements of his congregation seemed likely to prove a
disastrous failure. A merry company were gathered around Dora Hastings.
She held a book in her hand, and was struggling with the translation of
a sentiment written therein in French, and judging from the bursts of
laughter echoing from the group the attempt was either a real or
pretended failure. Theodore stood at a little distance from them,
perfectly able to hear what was said, yet as utterly alone as he would
have been out in the silent street.

"What terrible stuff she is reading," he said to himself. "I wonder if
she really _can not_ read it, or if she has any idea of what it is." As
if to answer his wondering, Dora turned suddenly toward him.

"We'll appeal for help," she said, gaily. "Mr. Mallery, do come to the
rescue. My French is defective or the translation is incorrect, probably
the latter."

Another burst of laughter followed this appeal; but Theodore, taking a
sudden resolution, stepped promptly forward.

"I conclude," he said, glancing at the book, and then looking steadily
around him, "that you really do not take in the meaning of this
sentence, any of you?"

"I am sure I do not," answered Dora, gaily. "It is about 'everlasting
eyes,' I think, or some such nonsense; but what little I once knew about
French, and little enough it was, I assure you, has utterly gone from
me, so have compassion on our ignorance if you can."

Without further comment Theodore, with quiet dignity, read the sentence:
"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the
good." As he finished his eye caught Dora's; her face was flushed and
eager.

"You are right," she said, promptly. "We none of us understood the
sentence,