Not only did his health still forbid that--and, indeed, last night's struggle seemed to him to have undone most of the good he had gained from the quiet of Millstead--but, what was more, he believed, above all, in the importance of the state of the pastor's own soul, and was convinced that his work would be weak and futile done under such conditions; that in theological language, there would be no blessing on it.

When he had once reached that conclusion, his path was plain before him.

He would go to the Retreat.

This word Retreat has become familiar to those who study ecclesiastical items in the paper.

But the Retreat Stafford had in his mind was not quite of the common kind.