"I--I must," he said, his voice so changed it gave her a shock of pain.

"I must work on my sermon." "I thought you had written it," she said; "and you are so tired--do wait until to-morrow." "I am not going to use the sermon I prepared," he answered.

"I have decided to preach more directly on foreign missions.

You know I exchange with Mr.Grier, of Chester, on the Sabbath; and he will preach to our church on the attitude of Assembly towards missions.

I had intended to give a more general sermon to his people, but--I have decided otherwise." Helen was surprised at so long an explanation; John's sermons were generally ignored by both, but for different reasons.