“Mr. Maxwell,” said Rollin, while tears flowed down his face, “do you hear that? And yet, what is Jesus’s teaching about disease? Did he not heal when he was here before? Will he not do the same now?”

Mr. Maxwell bowed his head, troubled in thought. “I must confess, my faith is somewhat shaken. I really thought that when he came the other day, he would perform a mighty work. I cannot understand why he did not. But concerning his power over disease, do you not remember, Doctor, what he said to us yesterday and the day before?”

Dr. West spoke eagerly. “Yes! His general attitude toward disease will be that the world is learning how to control and eradicate the causes of disease by finding out the reasons. For him to heal a few diseased people would be a small thing compared with directing human energy and research toward the causes of human suffering and finally removing them. And that, as I understand him, is going to be his attitude toward the whole problem of disease.”

“All that would not hinder him from healing suffering people, and he may do that,” Maxwell said, still troubled as he looked at Rollin and Rachel and remembered their grief. “Dearly Beloved, what can I say to you? Surely in all this mystery of death in life, even for the little children, God’s love is going to be revealed to us.”

“I do not question his love,” Rachel answered bravely. “I did at first, but Jesus has comforted me. I do not question his wisdom or his love. Somehow, I feel that his coming will mean to the world vastly more than the bringing to life again of even our dear one.” And Rachel laid her face down on the boy’s fair head while her tears fell, but they were tears of faith, not despair or bitterness.

“Where do you suppose he may have gone?” Maxwell asked of Grey in a low tone.

“I do not know. He returned with me as far as my house. You know I asked for the privilege of having him with me tonight, but when I turned to go in with him before coming up here, he was gone.”

There was silence among the friends. Even the solemn and awful stroke of death had not been able to lessen their tremendous interest in this Jesus coming into their homes and their lives. His every act and word, his daily plans, his future plans, his attitude toward all the varied interests of human life around him, was fascinating to them.

Yet even while all of that was true, as Mr. Maxwell said, speaking with wondering interest, Raymond was already beginning to accept his presence as if it were almost commonplace. As the news of his coming had gone out all over the country, a general wave of curiosity and inquiry was pulsing into Raymond and among the churches and the ministers, but his presence was hardly realized. Only a small number of people had as yet heard him speak. Mr. Maxwell had arranged a conference with all the church and pastors, which was to be held the next day in the First Church. Deep interest was being shown in this, and Mr. Maxwell was busy every moment, answering calls and making inquiries about this meeting. He himself was anticipating it with keenest wonder at its probable results.