“That is so,” said Mr. Gray.  “In what capacity do you think He went?”

“He had come to give life to men,” said Hubert with kindling eyes.  “He must go wherever He might find them—­wherever occasion presented itself.  I do not think He sought His own gratification.”

“Nor do I,” said Mr. Gray.  “What about ’what He did when He got there’?”

“He performed a miracle, for one thing, at Cana,” replied Hubert, whose diligent study of the Gospel of John now served him well.

“So He did,” assented Mr. Gray.  “If our little girl could do that, now, it might do to let her go,” and he glanced at her fondly.

“Yes,” said Hubert, “and He evidently became the central figure there, manifesting His glory.  If one of His followers could capture Mrs. Butterworth’s ball for Him it would surely pay to go.  If I thought Winnie were to do that I would certainly put on a dress suit and go myself.”

Hubert could not resist a teasing glance at his mother.  That lady was plainly horrified.  The thought of Winifred’s “preaching,” as she mentally called it, to anyone at the party, or doing any other eccentric thing, was far more shocking than her staying away.

Mr. Gray secretly enjoyed the look upon his wife’s face.

“And the other places?” he went on.

“I am not familiar with the incident in the house of Simon the Pharisee,” said Hubert.

“It is very striking and beautiful,” said Mr. Gray.  “Christ forgave a sinner—­a woman of the city—­and He had somewhat to say to His host, the Pharisee, about it.  He spoke a very telling parable at that dinner.”

Mrs. Gray again looked uneasy.  She hoped Winifred would not feel it her duty, finally, to go, if it involved a religious errand.

“And at Bethany?” Mr. Gray continued.

“He was anointed for His burial,” said Hubert, gravely.

“Ah, yes!” said his father in a subdued voice.

Both men thought reverently of the scene when one who had been raised from the dead sat at meat with Him who, for his sake and for all others, was Himself to die; and where one of the company poured upon His blessed feet love’s grateful, costly sacrifice.  To such a feast the true worshiper might indeed gladly go.

It was tacitly agreed that Winifred was to follow her own inclination with regard to the party.  Mrs. Gray was far too loyal and amiable a wife to seriously oppose her husband’s wish, and the sudden fear that Winifred, if she went to the party, might feel called upon to bear some sort of unusual testimony to her Lord affected the case strongly.  But she grieved much over her daughter’s prospective withdrawal from the assemblies of the “best people.”