rose from his knees the saintly face was gone, and all the air
seemed to be filled with a heavenly calm.

While he had been kneeling for the Father's blessing he had been aware of
a step on the floor behind him. It was his fellow-curate, the Reverend
Golightly, who was still waiting to deliver his message.

The canon had been disappointed in one of his preachers for Sunday, and
being himself engaged to preside over the annual dinner of a dramatic
benevolent fund to be held on the Saturday night, and therefore incapable
of extra preparation, he desired that Mr. Storm should take the sermon on
Sunday morning.

John promised to do so; and then his fellow-curate smiled, bowed,
coughed, and left him. A small room was kept for the chaplain on the
ground floor of the hospital, and he went down to it and wrote a letter.

It was to the parson at Peel.

"No doubt you hear from Glory frequently, and know all about her progress
as a probationer. She seems to be very well, and certainly I have never
seen her look so bright and so cheerful. At the moment of writing she is
out at a ball given by some of the hospital authorities. Well, it is a
perfectly harmless source of pleasure, and with all my heart I hope she
is enjoying herself. No doubt some form of amusement is necessary to a
young girl in the height of her youth and health and beauty, and he would
be only a poor sapless man who could not take delight in the thought that
a good girl was happy. Her fellow-nurses, too, are noble and devoted
women, doing true woman's work, and if there are some black sheep among
them, that is no more than might be expected of the purest profession in
the world.

"As for myself, I have tried to carry out-my undertaking to look after
Glory, but I can not say how long I may be able to continue the task. Do
not be surprised if I am compelled to give it up. You know I am
dissatisfied with my present surroundings, and I am only waiting for the
ruling and direction of the pillar of cloud and fire. God alone can tell
how it will move, but God will guide me. I don't go out more than I can
help, and when I do go I get humiliated and feel foolish. The life of
London has been a great and painful surprise. I had supposed that I knew
all about it, but I have really known nothing until now. Its cruelty, its
deceit, and its treachery are terrible. London is the Judas that is
forever betraying with a kiss the young, the hopeful, the innocent.
However, it he