"Yes, we have," replied the minister, "and sometimes, it seems to
me, the result is hideous. I don't mind people taking themselves out
of their places; but if the particles of this mighty cosmos have
been adjusted by the divine wisdom, what are we to say of the
temerity that disturbs the least of them?"

"I'm sure I don't know," said Miss Vane, rising. "I'm almost afraid
to stir, in view of the possible consequences. But I can't sit here
all day, and if Mrs. Sewell will excuse me, I'll go at once. Yes, 'I
guess I better be going,' as your particle Barker says. Let us hope
he'll get safely back to his infinitesimal little crevice in the
cosmos. He's a very pretty particle, don't you think? That thick,
coarse, wavy black hair growing in a natural bang over his forehead
would make his fortune if he were a certain kind of young lady."

They followed her to the door, chatting, and Sewell looked quickly
out when he opened it for her.

As she shook his hand she broke into another laugh. "Really, you
looked as if you were afraid of finding him on the steps!"

"If I could only have got near the poor boy," said Sewell to his
wife, as they returned withindoors. "If I could only have reached
him where he lives, as our slang says! But do what I would, I
couldn't find any common ground where we could stand together. We
were as unlike as if we were of two different species. I saw that
everything I said bewildered him more and more; he couldn't
understand me! Our education is unchristian, our civilisation is
pagan. They both ought to bring us in closer relations with our