n answer?" said the minister.

"I never thought of the questions before, sir. The second one sounds to
me very strange."

"Does it? Do you think the Lord had no purpose to serve, in putting you
here and nourishing you up to strength and power?"

"That's for the bread," said Norton after a pause, but not rudely;
lifting his eyes to the minister as he spoke. "You were going to
consider the bread _and butter_."

"I think you do not seem disposed to 'consider' anything," said Mr.
Richmond smiling; "but, however, I will hope the time of consideration
may come. Now for deep question Number three, or Number four,--You have
butter to your bread, and plenty of it; what is your duty towards
others who have no butter, and others still who have no bread?"

"There's the omnibus, Mr. Richmond," said the housekeeper. And there
was no more talk. Only a hurried putting on of hats and seizing of hand
bags; eager, warm, hearty grasping of hands in good bye; and then the
three travellers were in the omnibus and rolling along the parsonage
lane and out at the gate.

What a visit it had been! Matilda was so full of content that she was
still. Not a very noisy child at any time, she was now as quiet as a
mouse, just with content. Three days of sweet pleasure, three days of
country skies and greening grass and free sunshine; three nights and
mornings of parsonage delights. And more than that; more than all she
had hoped for; David going home with _his_ deep questions solved and
his calls of duty and privilege met. What would they think at home? and
how would they find out about it? "He was one of those lost pieces of
silver," thought Matilda, smiling to herself; "and Jesus has found him!"

"What's so amusing?" inquired Norton. He was rather in a disordered
state of mind, and certainly seemed to see nothing amusing himself.

Matilda looked up, still smiling, though her eyes were dewy, and from
him glanced at David. Their eyes met. His smile answered hers, quite
recognizing its meaning. Norton whistled. There was no other passenger
in the omnibus; and he whistled half way to the station.

In the cars the same content possessed Matilda. It was still early
morning; she thought the river had never looked so pretty as in the
crisp light of that hour; nor the opposite hills so lovely as under
those wreaths of bright vapour which lay along the hillsides; nor ever
was there a blue sky more smiling. She glanced at her two companions.
Norton wa