ester, "but I fear that my party is not ready,
and Lucy is not well enough to make the trip, I fear."

"Lucy?"

Chester smiled goodnaturedly, then told him freely of Lucy. "And when
you get home, you can tell Julia all about me and mine. It will please
her, I am sure. By the way, how is it between Julia and you? I haven't
heard lately."

"All right," said Glen.

"You're a lucky boy," declared Chester, "to get such a girl. There's
just _one_ other I would rather have."

"I'm glad you think so."

"Of course you are--for--oh, for everybody's sake."

Chester had to return to Rotterdam the same day, so he claimed. Glen
could not keep him longer, and reluctantly waved him off at the station.

The boat was slow from the Hook, at least it seemed so to Chester, and
there was a high sea which nearly upset him. He got to London too late
in the evening to call on the Strong's, but next morning he was out
early.

Lucy met him in the hall with a cry of delight.

"You've come," she whispered as he pressed her close. "Oh, I thought you
never would."

"My dear, why did you not say? Why did you let me leave you at all?"

"I didn't want you to miss anything on my account--but never mind that
now--come in. Papa and uncle will be glad to see you. Do you know," she
added with evident pleasure, "papa has been _nearly_ as anxious about
you as I have,--has continually asked me about you,--and I had to let
him read your lovely long letter."

"You did? Well, it's all right. There's no harm done, I'm sure. He might
as well know everything."

"Oh, he knows a lot already."

They went into the house, and found seats until the others should
appear.

"Your face shows signs of suffering, Lucy; but otherwise you look quite
well."

"That's just it with my trouble. I usually deceive my looks; but I feel
better already; and now, let me tell you something else: Father has
nearly consented to my being baptized!"

"Lucy!"

"It's true. I've been pleading with him--and preaching to him too; and
the other day he said he would think about it. That's a concession, for
he has always said _he would not_ think of such a thing."

"I'm so glad so very, very glad, Lucy."

"And Chester, I believe it's you who have made the change in him. He's
been so different since you have been with us. He hasn't been so angry
with me when I talked of 'Mormonism.' He has let me read my books
without any remonstrance. And do you know, even Uncle Gilbert is
a