lmost waltzing us out to-day," that gentleman
remarked, referring to the organist. "Winifred, you outdid yourself
to-day on that lovely thing."

Winifred smiled faintly. "Did you hear the sermon to-day, George?" she
asked.

"Did I hear it? Well, that's good. Do I hear sermons when I go to
church? But I confess to a little absentmindedness; not to equal that
of our friend at the organ, however," and George laughed. Then he
caught sight of a group of people in the vestibule below and exclaimed:

"Hello! There's your father and the preacher! I believe he is going
to take him home to dinner. Don't look for me under your hospitable
roof to-day, Winifred."

"Why?" she began.

"I have no taste for parsons. He'll talk the backs off the chairs.
See if he doesn't. Good-by." And the young man strode carelessly away.

Winifred joined her mother in the vestibule, and they held a whispered
consultation as to the probabilities of the young minister's going home
with them. It seemed evident that Mr. Gray had taken him captive.

"Take him in the carriage and let me walk, mother," Winifred said, "I
would much rather." So she slipped away and did not meet the minister
until dinner.

Hubert Gray, Winifred's only brother, had also been at church that
morning. This was somewhat unusual, for Hubert was a sceptic, and he
did not like to appear what he was not. But occasionally he went to
hear what might be said and turn it over in his questioning brain. He
was a young man of strong aversions, and one of his special dislikes
happened to be the unfortunate Doctor Schoolman.

"I hate cant," he declared. "His very tones are studied and unnatural.
His voice quavers to order, and if I should see tears on his face I
should think he had pumped them up someway for effect. I don't like to
be practiced on. I should like a man to believe something earnestly
and say it honestly."

And so he stayed away for the most part, but like many a man who is a
sceptic, found that the subject of the Christ would not down, and he
could not let it alone. So after absences he would go again to hear,
though it should be only to gain fresh occasion for his doubts or
cynical criticisms. To-day he was the first to arrive at home and met
Winifred in the hall as she came in.

"The spiritual priesthood did very well to-day, Winnie," he said, by
way of greeting. "I hope you all sang 'with grace in your hearts unto
the Lord.' I am sure Frot