comic look of dismay at Kenneth. 'He
looks as if he could be aggressive--it's a revelation to me; I cannot
get over it! Let us have some music to refresh us after such topics!'

She moved across to the piano, and left me in peace for the remainder
of the evening.

CHAPTER XII

A TEST

'As woods, when shaken by the breeze,
Take deeper, firmer root;
As winter's frosts but make the trees
Abound in summer fruit;
So every bitter pang and throe
That Christian firmness tries,
But nerves us for our work below,
And forms us for the skies.'--_Henry Francis Lyte._

It was not to be wondered at that my thoughts dwelt much upon Mr.
Stanton for the next few days. It was so strange to feel that there
was another now in the house who was a follower of Christ, and I
wondered if he would have a good influence over Hugh.

One afternoon I was coming back from the village, where I had been to
give Jim his reading lesson, when Mr. Stanton overtook me, and we
walked home together. I had never as yet seen him alone, and felt a
little shy of him; but he soon made me feel at ease by his ready
sympathy, and I found myself telling him of my different interests in
the village. And then he presently said, 'Do you find your life
difficult at times in such surroundings?'

'Sometimes I do,' I responded, 'but never too difficult.'

'No,' he said; 'we are never placed in circumstances where it is
impossible to serve our Master. I sometimes wish a little more of the
martial spirit could be instilled into many Christians. A true soldier
does not shirk or shrink from the front in battle, but a Christian is
very apt to hide his colours if he gets upon the enemy's ground.'

'It is a puzzle to me sometimes,' I said, 'when it is best to keep
silent and when to speak. One's life ought to tell most amongst
unconverted people, and yet that tempts one sometimes to hide one's
light. It is easy to go on one's way quietly without saying a word to
any one, but perhaps it is not being faithful. What do you think about
it, Mr. Stanton?'

'I think,' he said, 'if we are living close to the Master, He will
never leave us in doubt as to when the opportunity for speaking occurs.
If we are ready and waiting on Him, we shall be led to do the right
thing. Many good people do more harm than good by making up their
minds that they are bound to deliver a message, whether the occasion
warrants it or not. And then it is ofte