“But why? Why?” Mr. Maxwell persisted with a stubborn recurrence of the same thought, and yet he seemed timid about fully expressing it. “I don’t know why, if one age was permitted an actual sight of Jesus, another age might not also.”

Mrs. Maxwell gently placed her hand on his arm and, with a short laugh, made him sit down by Mr. Norman. “I think, Mr. Norman, that Henry is rather nervous and not his usual self. He has been working beyond his strength for several months.”

“I know he has, Mrs. Maxwell. It’s going to be a fine thing for him to have the assistant the church voted for at the last annual meeting. By the way, Maxwell, when does Stanton arrive?”

“Stanton? I had almost forgotten him. He might come in tonight. I told him to come right here as soon as he arrived, and he may come in soon. He wrote asking me not to trouble about meeting him at the station, as he was not certain about the exact time of his arrival.”

“I hope he will prove to be the man you need,” said Mr. Norman.

“We believe he will,” Mrs. Maxwell answered. “We used to know him when he was at the Settlement in Chicago. Mr. Maxwell feels confident no mistake has been made.”

“About Stanton?” Mr. Maxwell spoke with great enthusiasm. “Stanton is a rare fellow. He is one out of ten thousand. First Church will never regret calling him, and he will be of the greatest possible help to me. He is forty years old, mature in his judgment, and a splendid fellow in every way.”

“The only thing I have against him,” Mrs. Maxwell said, smiling, “is that he is not married.” As she said it, she happened to look toward Virginia, who was eagerly talking to Felicia and Stephen. Mrs. Maxwell seemed on the point of adding something but did not.

Mr. Maxwell simply said, “Oh well, Stanton will not cause any disturbance in that way. He is the most confirmed bachelor I ever knew who was not at the same time disagreeably stubborn about it. He is passionately in love with the ministry. That is why I am so delighted to welcome him as my helper. And I shouldn’t wonder if that was he.”

The bell had rung as Mr. Maxwell spoke, and he went hastily to open the door. The company gathered in the library could hear Mr. Maxwell’s words of eager greeting, and a very strong, deep voice replying, and the next moment Maxwell ushered in Richard Stanton, his new assistant, who received a very cordial welcome from all the members of the First Church who had anticipated his coming for several weeks.

Stanton was a big, healthy-looking man, gifted with a rich voice and a kind smile, and most people took to him at first sight. He exchanged greetings as he shook hands, and when he had completed the circle around which Mr. Maxwell had led him, he found himself by Virginia.