He felt the burden of the community's sin in the matter, and more than once he felt obliged to come in from his parish work and go up into his study there to commune with his Father.

He was growing old very fast in these first few weeks in his new parish.
Tuesday evening of that week Philip had been writing a little while in his study, where he had gone immediately after supper.

It was nearly eight o'clock when he happened to remember that he had promised a sick child in the home of one of his parishioners that he would come and see him that very day.
He came downstairs, put on his hat and overcoat, and told his wife where he was going.
"It's not far.

I shall be back in about half an hour, Sarah." He went out, and his wife held the door open until he was down the steps.

She was just on the point of shutting the door as he started down the sidewalk when a sharp report rang out close by.