it had once meant, and how it had appeared to be the one
satisfactory solution to the problems which weary and perplex mankind.
Now she must face all the problems over again in the grim twilight of
dawning science, with no longer a Star of Bethlehem to show where the
answer might be found; and her spirit quailed at the pitiless prospect.
She had never understood before how much that Symbol of eternal love and
vicarious suffering had been to her, nor how puzzling would be the path
through the wilderness if there were no Crucifix at life's cross-roads
to show the traveller which way to go; and her heart grew heavier as she
took part in the sacred office of Evensong, and thought how beautiful it
all would be if only it were true. She longed to be a little child
again--a child to whom the things which are not seen are as the things
which are seen, and the things which are not as the things which are;
and she could have cried with homesickness when she remembered how
firmly she had once believed that the shadow which hung over the
Osierfield was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night,
to testify that God was still watching over His people, as in the days
of old. Now she knew that the pillar was only the smoke and the flame of
human industries; and the knowledge brought a load of sadness, as it
seemed to typify that there was no longer any help for the world but in
itself.

When the Bishop ascended the pulpit, Elisabeth recalled her wandering
thoughts and set herself to listen. No one who possesses a drop of
Nonconformist blood can ever succeed in not listening to a sermon, even
if it be a poor one; and the Bishop of Merchester was one of the finest
preachers of his day. His text was, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona:
for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee"; and he endeavoured
to set forth how it is only God who can teach men about God, and how
flesh and blood can never show us the Christ until He chooses to reveal
Himself. At first Elisabeth listened only with her mind, expecting an
intellectual treat and nothing more; but as he went on, and showed how
the Call comes in strange places and at strange times, and how when it
comes there is no resisting it, her heart began to burn within her; and
she recognised the preacher, not only as a man of divers gifts and great
powers, but as the ambassador of Christ sent direct to her soul. Then
slowly her eyes were opened, and she knew that the Figure in the e