Parson Dorrance in his turn was as much impressed by Mercy; but he was never able to see in her simply the pupil, the questioner.

To him she was also a warm and glowing personality, a young and beautiful woman.

Parson Dorrance's hair was white as snow; but his eyes were as keen and dark as in his youth, his step as firm, and his pulse as quick.

Long before he dreamed of such a thing, he might have known, if he had taken counsel of his heart, that Mercy was becoming to him the one woman in the world.

There was always this peculiarity in Mercy's influence upon all who came to love her.