“By the way, Winifred,” Miss Forrester said, apropos of some topic discussed, “your brother gave a splendid talk at the Cleary Street Mission last night.  Oh, you ought to have heard him!  It was fine!”

Winifred opened her eyes widely.  “Hubert at the Mission last night?  He never told me.”

“I suspect he doesn’t let his left hand know what his right hand is doing,” suggested Adele.  “But he certainly was there.  And when Mr. McBride asked him to speak he promptly did so.  It was splendid!  Not simply what he said, you know, but the fact that he said it—­a business man talking in a matter-of-fact, business way to other men of something he evidently thought the most important matter in the world.  Of course most of the people were of a far different class from his, but you would never guess it from his words.  He didn’t patronize them a bit.  I liked that so much.  And you should have seen how those men fastened their eyes on him and listened to what he said.”

“How lovely!” cried Winifred.  “I wish I had been there.  But pray tell me, Adele, how happens it that you were there?”

“Oh, I am a regular attendant in Cleary Street,” said Adele laughing.  “At least I go regularly on certain nights in the week and play the organ—­a wretched, squeaky, little thing—­and raise my voice on Sankey hymns also.”

“You do!” cried Winifred with a mixture of amusement, dismay and admiration in her voice.  “Well, I declare!”

“I don’t see why you should be so shocked,” said Adele, enjoying her friend’s astonishment.  “Pray, why shouldn’t I go?  Do you doubt my qualifications?  I am not the musician you are, dear, but my skill is quite up to those tunes, I assure you.”

“I hope you don’t wear that red hat of yours and your usual stunning costumes, Adele?”

“It occurred to me after I had gone a few times,” said Adele quietly, “that it might be well to modify my gear.  I think you would approve of my revised toilet.  It is very simple.”

“Adele, I know you can’t help looking well, whatever you wear,” said Winifred, who suddenly observed a somewhat altered “gear” in evidence.  “If you should put on a Salvation Army bonnet it would look stylish.  It couldn’t help itself.  But please tell me more about the Mission.  How happened you to go at all?”

“I heard Mr. McBride speak at a meeting.  He told of the work of the Mission, and of the need of helpers—­especially of somebody to help in the music.  It occurred to me that that was the kind of assistance I might give, and that it would be very nice to contribute in some small way, at least, to the work of the Mission.  And,” she continued very gravely, “I volunteered and was gladly accepted.”

“That is very noble, I think,” said Winifred.  “But what did your friends think?”