“Oh, not my nephew, of course!  Nothing could tear him away.  He is perfectly charmed with all this singing and praying and preaching, but I confess it is too much of a good thing for me.  I am not intellectually inclined, I like the music very well, and some of the addresses are fine; but there is such a thing as carrying meetings to excess.”

At this point she turned quickly at the sound of a firm step behind her, and greeted a young man.

“Speak of angels and you hear their wings, or the squeak of their boots,” she said.  “We were just talking about you, Evan.  My nephew, Mr. Roberts, Miss Shipley.  I believe you have never met before.”

Had they not!  There was a heightened flush on the cheek of each as they shook hands.  It was clear that each recognized the other.

“Are we strangers?” he asked, with a bright smile, speaking so low that Mrs. Smythe, whose attention had already wandered from them to a group who were passing, did not hear the words, “On the contrary, I think we are related, though I do not know that we have happened to hear each other’s names before.”

Flossy understood the relationship—­sons and daughters of one Father—­for she knew this was the young man who had twice questioned her concerning her allegiance to that Father.  Also, she remembered him as the only one whom she had ever heard pray for her.

Mrs. Smythe called out a gay good-evening to them, and joined a party of friends, and Mr. Roberts leaned against a tree and prepared to cultivate the acquaintance of his newly-found relative.

“You have one of those large, sensible-looking Bibles, I see,” he said.  “I have been very much tempted, but I could not make myself feel that I really needed one.”

“I really needed mine,” Flossy said, smiling.  “I left my Bible at home.  I had not such a thought as bringing it along.  I feel now as if I had a treasure that I didn’t know how to use.  It is quite new to me.  I don’t know where to read first, but I suppose it makes no difference.”

“Indeed it does make great difference,” he said, smiling, “and you will enjoy finding out how to read it.  Chautauqua is a good place for such a study, and the Bible reading this evening is an excellent place to commence.  Are you going?”

“Yes, indeed!” Flossy said, with brightening eyes.  “I have been looking forward to it all day.  I can’t think what a Bible reading is.  Do they just read verses in the Bible?”

“Yes,” he said, smiling.  “It is just Bible verses, with a word of explanation now and then and a little singing.  But the Bible verses are something remarkable, as you will see.  It is nearly time for service.  Are you ready?  Shall we walk down and secure seats?”

So they went down together it the early twilight, and took seats under the trees amid the glowing of brilliant lights and the soft sound of music coming from the piano on the stand.