Rachel was silent, looking at Virginia with deepest interest.

Virginia’s face, happy, glowing with her newly found joy, was now wet with tears. “Jesus spoke to us with a comfort and a joy we do not know how to express or explain. He had seen from the first time he met us how necessary we were to each other. And then Richard told him that on the day of the riot, in the very midst of its confusion, or just as it was marvelously quieting under the astonishing command of Jesus, he knew, just as if Jesus had spoken, that he approved and commended and blessed our love for each other. Oh, we shall always carry with us all our lives his gracious benediction.

“Think of it, Rachel! We, Richard and I, have actually taken the hand of Jesus in the flesh and he himself in person has actually blessed our love with his spoken word and his gracious smile. It does not seem possible.”

“All of that astounding week seems impossible,” said Rachel gravely. “But we know how real it has all been. I never could have borne the death of Eloise if Jesus had not been here.” Rachel’s tears fell, but they were not bitter, only the natural human tears of motherly affection.

“Do you feel at any time as if Jesus ought to have brought her to life?”

“No. Not now. I have the greatest peace, Virginia, whenever I think of Eloise. Jesus gave me that peace.”

There was a loving silence between the two friends while Virginia held Rachel’s hand and caressed it. Then Rachel said brightly, “Have you told Mr. Maxwell?”

Virginia blushed and laughed. “No, but Richard is going to tell him today. We wanted to keep it to ourselves a while.”

“Selfish creatures! Keeping it to yourselves at least a week! Virginia, I did not think you were so selfish!”

Virginia laughed again, a laugh that revealed her intense happiness. “I am not going to apologize for the suddenness of it. I have no doubt people will be surprised. They will say it is not like me.”

“Well, it is not like anything you have ever done yet. But don’t you imagine anyone will be critical. I have not been so happy since Rollin, with my help, asked me to marry him. But,” and her face grew happily thoughtful, “what a blessing greater than mine or any friend’s, dear Virginia, is the blessing he gave you both.”

“Yes,” Virginia said softly, her face glowing, her eyes looking afar. “We shall carry that gracious blessing of his all our lives. Thank God!”

“Do you think we shall ever see him again?”

“Not here in Raymond. He must go to as many other places as he can.”

“Where will he go first?”

“To New York, then Washington. After that, he did not know himself. But he bade us farewell, as if we should not see him again here. I shall never forget his last words. ‘Beloved, we shall all meet in the Father’s House.’”