of your life, my boy, the Lord will open the
way to great opportunities. But the time and the way will be plainly
shown. If this is a door of greater opportunity, then enter it, and
God give you great and large blessing. But if you are leaving with any
doubts as to its being the right course, if you fear that there are
other obligations you must yet fulfil, then I charge you to examine
your heart carefully, lest you fight against God. It is no use trying
to do that. One day or other His love will hedge us about. If it
cannot draw us into the way it meets us on the Damascus Road and blinds
us with its light. But some of us miss the best of life before that
happens. Don't lose the way, Lad; your father instructed you well in
it."

For days the warning followed Roderick, tormenting him. He dared not
examine his motives carefully, lest he find them false. He was out on
life's waters, paddling hard for the gleam of gold, and he had no time
to stop and consider whither it was leading him. It might vanish while
he lingered.

There was another person whose opinion he was anxious to get on this
vexed question. He wondered every waking hour what she would think of
his going. Perhaps she didn't think about it at all, he speculated
miserably. He still continued to waylay her in Willow Lane, as he went
to and from home, and one evening he ran upon his poor rival, Afternoon
Tea Willie, doing the same sentinel duty.

Roderick had been home for supper and was returning to the office early
to do some left over work, when he overtook him slowly walking towards
Algonquin.

"Good evening, Mr. Roderick," he said in a melancholy tone. "May I
walk into town with you?"

Roderick slackened his stride to suit the young man. He was rather
impatient at having to endure his company, but he soon changed his
mind, for Alfred was in a confidential mood.

"I might as well go home," he said gloomily. "She's gone."

"Who's gone?" asked Roderick perversely.

"Why, Miss Murray. She slipped away somehow, and I don't know how she
did it. But I've waited down here for her for the last time." He
choked for a moment, then continued firmly. "She's showed me plainly
she doesn't want me, and I'm too proud to force my company upon her."

Roderick did not know what to say; he wanted to laugh, but it was
impossible to keep just a little of the fellow-feeling that makes us
wondrous kind from creeping into his heart.

"Well, it's too