[Ill.u.s.tration: "'LET US PUT THIS COLD-BLOODED LETTER ON THE FIRE.'"]

Phebe nodded, and they both watched it curl up into a black ma.s.s, and then sink down into the heart of the fire.

"Shall we go back, Phebe, dear?"

"What does that mean, Nanna?"

"That you give G.o.d your answer."

"That I am willing to do that work myself?"

"Yes."

"And do you really think I could?" looking up into the strong, brave face bending over her.

"Yes, I do; it is G.o.d's call, and He is sure to give you all you need.

Will you?"

There was a pause, and then a faint "Yes," but Nanna knew, though faint, it was meant. And there and then, without altering their position, Nanna prayed: "I thank Thee, dear Father, for this honour Thou art putting on my dear Phebe. Perhaps it is in some way to make up for the dishonour some have put upon her. Through the delay in answering Thee she has brought fresh pain to herself, but forgive her and comfort her, dear Father. Open up the way for her in this piece of work, everything going so smoothly that thereby she may see Thy dear hand in all, and be a.s.sured Thou art with her. Give her, dear Lord, to-morrow, if Thou seest it will be good, some extra bit of comfort to make up for what has wounded her so sorely to-day. May she be another of Thy brave Deborahs.

We are in Thy hands; never let us even wish to be anywhere else, and do let us each feel the touch of those blessed hands."

The next day at dinner, to everybody's surprise, Mrs. Colston announced that in all probability Mrs. Waring was going next Sunday afternoon to hold a meeting among the navvies.

"You don't say so!" exclaimed Bessie; "then I shall go, too. It wouldn't be the proper thing, you know, to let her go alone."

"And couldn't you sing a bit?" asked Nanna.

"Yes, I would if Mrs. Waring would like me to do so." Bessie had a very nice voice, but was never very confident of herself as a singer.

Phebe only smiled an answer. She was still feeling too nervous to talk much about the plan. Later on, Reynolds said: "I have been thinking, Mrs. Waring, they are rather a rough sort you are going among; if you've no objection, I should like to accompany you."

And a little later, when Jones heard all about these arrangements, he exclaimed: "I'm not going to be left out, I'm sure. I'm coming, too; and if you've no portable organ or anything of that kind lent you, I could bring my concertina." He had a beautiful English concertina, and was really a very good player.

"Splendid!" exclaimed Bessie, "we'll all gather round 'The Little Missis,'--that we will!"

"I am sure you are all too good to me," said Phebe, with tears in her eyes, for she realised that all these offers were made out of pure devotion towards her, no higher motive as yet being apparent.

"There, dear heart!" exclaimed Nanna, "there's the answer straightway."

"What answer?" forgetting for the moment to what she referred.

"Don't you remember what I asked the Lord for last night? A special bit of comfort to come to you to-day, and there it is straightway in the offer of these loving young hearts!"

It struck Reynolds as a rather new idea that anything he did should be described as an answer to prayer. If that were so, G.o.d must often be very near to him, influencing him. The thought made him feel very quiet.

CHAPTER XVII

THE GOING FORTH OF DEBORAH

Nanna lost no time in sending Jim Coates a verbal message as to Mrs.

Waring's promise. This was followed later on by a note from that individual herself, asking Jim to see her friend the ganger, and ascertain if the use of one of the sheds would be granted for a Bible meeting on Sunday afternoons.

The very next evening Jim paid another visit to Mrs. Waring's establishment, this time to give report number two. He little thought the night he came with some of his drinking companions to have a look at the woman whose religion "cost her summat," that he would ever be a welcome guest in her parlour, or even wish to be.

Jim had already enlisted the sympathies of his three Christian mates in his scheme. d.i.c.k was especially taken up with it, and the two had lost no time in making all the arrangements they could.

The ganger had done all in his power to help, but had not hesitated in uttering most doleful prophecies. "She's a little brick, that she is; but they'll either send her to Coventry or Bedlam." Jim repeated all the ganger had said, feeling it only right that Mrs. Waring should know the risks she was running.

But Phebe only laughed, quietly remarking: "We shall have more on our side than those that are against us." Jim wondered very much at her reckoning up, but said nothing. He had not learnt yet to include the angels in his calculations.

The whole company joined in discussing the plans--the two young men, Bessie and Nanna.

"I don't see how you are going to walk those four miles," said Bessie; "it is that which troubles me, for you are not a good walker at any time."

"I did think of that myself," said Phebe, "but if it is right for me to go G.o.d will give me the strength."

"Hear, hear," said Nanna, clapping her rough little hands; "that's what I call the right note."

"You stop a bit," said Jim mysteriously. "d.i.c.k and me have thought about that; you wait and you'll see."

Then he went on to describe how they were going to fit the shed up and erect temporary seats. "But d.i.c.k and me want to know, Mrs. Waring, if it was a fine day, if you'd be willing to have the meeting out of doors?

More of the men would listen if you would. d.i.c.k says if you sat with your back to the shed it would be a sounding-board for you, like as they have in churches."

"That would be a good deal better than a stuffy old shed," put in Bessie, to which opinion Phebe also agreed.

Punctually at a quarter to two on the next Sunday afternoon the little party was ready to start on its expedition. Nanna whispered to Phebe: "'Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy G.o.d; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.'"

Nanna, with little Jack in her arms, and Janie by her side, stood at the street-door to wave their farewells. Prompted by Nanna, Jack screamed out: "Bye-bye, mummy; come back happy."

Jim Coates, all radiant in a new black-and-white check suit, and hair well oiled, met them at the bottom of the street to act as conductor.

"I say, Mr. Coates," exclaimed Bessie, "where's that carriage and pair of greys you promised Mrs. Waring? I wonder you are so forgetful."

"You wait a while, miss, and you'll see I'm not so forgetful as you think," with a comically solemn look on his face.

"Did you ever see such a swell--a real Beau Brummel, if you like!"

whispered Bessie to Phebe. "He looks like 'a peac.o.c.k with a wooden leg,'

if you like. But he's 'a dear' for all that."

When they had got less than half-way, lo! there, in the centre of the road, stood d.i.c.k, holding a tricycle.

"There!" exclaimed Jim, with a triumphant smile, "there's the carriage and here's the greys," pointing to himself and d.i.c.k.

A Bible was strapped on the handle-bar, on which also was hung a large motto-card, bearing the words "G.o.d is Love."