was comforted and at peace, but the Macphails felt suddenly bashful. They did not know which way to look.
'I'll just go down and see how she is now,' said Dr Macphail.
When he knocked at her door it was opened for him by Horn. Miss Thompson was in a rocking-chair, sobbing quietly.
'What are you doing there?' exclaimed Macphail. 'I told you to lie down.'
'I can't lie down. I want to see Mr Davidson.'
'My poor child, what do you think is the good of it? You'll never move him.'
'He said he'd come if I sent for him.'
Macphail motioned to the trader.
'Go and fetch him.'
He waited with her in silence while the trader went upstairs. Davidson came in.
'Excuse me for asking you to come here,' she said, looking at him sombrely.
'I was expecting you to send for me. I knew the Lord would answer my prayer.'
They stared at one another for a moment and then she looked away. She kept her eyes averted when she spoke.
'I've been a bad woman. I want to repent.'
'Thank God! thank God! He has heard our prayers.'
He turned to the two men.
'Leave me alone with her. Tell Mrs Davidson that our prayers have been answered.'
They went out and closed the door behind them.
'Gee whizz,' said the trader.
That night Dr Macphail could not get to sleep till late, and when he heard the missionary come upstairs he looked at his watch. It was two o'clock. But even then he did not go to bed at once, for through the wooden partition that separated their rooms he heard him praying aloud, till he himself, exhausted, fell asleep.
When he saw him next morning he was surprised at his appearance. He was paler than ever, tired, but his eyes shone with an inhuman fire. It looked as though he were filled with an overwhelming joy.
'I want you to go down presently and see Sadie,' he said. 'I can't hope that her body is better, but her soul--her soul is transformed.'
The doctor was feeling wan and nervous.
'You were with her very late last night,' he said.
'Yes, she couldn't bear to have me leave her.'
'You look as pleased as Punch,' the doctor said irritably.
Davidson's eyes shone with ecstasy.
'A great mercy has been vouchsafed me. Last night I was privileged to bring a lost soul to the loving arms of Jesus.'
Miss Thompson was again in the rocking-chair. The bed had not been made. The room was in disorder. She had not troubled to dress herself, but wore a dirty dressing-gown, and her hair was tied in a sluttish knot. She had given her face a dab with a wet towel, but it was all swollen and creased with crying. She looked a drab.
She raised her eyes dully when the doctor came in. She was cowed and broken.
'Where's Mr Davidson?' she asked.
'He'll come presently if you want him,' answered Macphail acidly. 'I came here to see how you were.'
'Oh, I guess I'm O. K. You needn't worry about that.'
'Have you had anything to eat?'
'Horn brought me some coffee.'
She looked anxiously at the door.
'D'you think he'll come down soon? I feel as if it wasn't so terrible when he's with me.'
'Are you still going on Tuesday?'
'Yes, he says I've got to go. Please tell him to come right along. You can't do me any good. He's the only one as can help me now.'
'Very well,' said Dr Macphail.
During the next three days the missionary spent almost all his time with Sadie Thompson. He joined the others only to have his meals. Dr Macphail noticed that he hardly ate.
'He's wearing himself out,' said Mrs Davidson pitifully. 'He'll have a breakdown if he doesn't take care, but he won't spare himself.'
She herself was white and pale. She told Mrs Macphail that she had no sleep. When the missionary came upstairs from Miss Thompson he prayed till he was exhausted, but even then he did not sleep for long. After an hour or two he got up and dressed himself, and went for a tramp along the bay. He had strange dreams.
