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ntry road； and a moment later it stopped at our gate。 I thought I saw the Vedders exchanging significant glances。 A number of merry young people tumbled out； and an especially pretty girl of about twenty came running through the garden。
〃Mother；〃 she exclaimed； 〃you MUST come with us！〃
〃I can't； I can't；〃 said Mrs。 Vedder； 〃the roses MUST be prunedand see！ The azaleas are coming into bloom。〃
With that she presented me to her daughter。
And； then； shortly； for it could no longer be concealed； I learned that Mr。 and Mrs。 Vedder were not the caretakers but the owners of the estate and of the great house I had seen on the hill。 That evening； with an air almost of apology； they explained to me how it all came about。
〃We first came out here；〃 said Mrs。 Vedder； 〃nearly twenty years ago； and built the big house on the hill。 But the more we came to know of country life the more we wanted to get down into it。 We found it impossible up thereso many unnecessary things to see to and care forand we couldn'twe didn't see〃
〃The fact is；〃 Mr。 Vedder put in； 〃we were losing touch with each other。〃
〃There is nothing like a big house；〃 said Mrs。 Vedder； 〃to separate a man and his wife。〃
〃So we came down here；〃 said Mr。 Vedder； 〃built this little cottage； and developed this garden mostly with our own hands。 We would have sold the big house long ago if it hadn't been for our friends。 They like it。〃
〃I have never heard a more truly romantic story；〃 said I。
And it WAS romantic： these fine people escaping from too many possessions； too much property； to the peace and quietude of a garden where they could be lovers again。
〃It seems； sometimes；〃 said Mrs。 Vedder； 〃that I never really believed in God until we came down here〃
〃I saw the verse on the table in the arbour；〃 said I。
〃And it is true；〃 said Mr。 Vedder。 〃We got a long； long way from God for many years： here we seem to get back to Him。〃
I had fully intended to take the road again that afternoon； but how could any one leave such people as those？ We talked again late that night； but the next morning； at the leisurely Sunday breakfast； I set my hour of departure with all the firmness I could command。 I left them； indeed； before ten o'clock that forenoon。 I shall never forget the parting。 They walked with me to the top of the hill； and there we stopped and looked back。 We could see the cottage half hidden among the trees； and the little opening that the precious garden made。 For a time we stood there quite silent。
〃Do you remember；〃 I said presently； 〃that character in Homer who was a friend of men and lived in a house by the side of the road？ I shall always think of you as friends of menyou took in a dusty traveller。 And I shall never forget your house by the side of the road。〃
〃The House by the Side of the Roadyou have christened it anew； David Grayson；〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Vedder。
And so we parted like old friends； and I left them to return to their garden； where 〃'tis very sure God walks。〃
CHAPTER IV。 I AM THE SPECTATOR OF A MIGHTY BATTLE； IN WHICH CHRISTIAN MEETS APPOLLYON
It is one of the prime joys of the long road that no two days are ever remotely alikeno two hours even； and sometimes a day that begins calmly will end with the most stirring events。
It was thus； indeed； with that perfect spring Sunday； when I left my friends； the Vedders； and turned my face again to the open country。 It began as quietly as any Sabbath morning of my life； but what an end it had！ I would have travelled a thousand miles for the adventures which a bounteous road that day spilled carelessly into my willing hands。
I can give no adequate reason why it should be so； but there are Sunday mornings in the springat least in our country which seem to put on； like a Sabbath garment； an atmosphere of divine quietude。 Warm； soft； clear； but； above all； immeasurably serene。
Such was that Sunday morning； and I was no sooner well afoot than I yielded to the ingratiating mood of the day。 Usually I am an active walker； loving the sense of quick motion and the stir it imparts to both body and mind； but that morning I found myself loitering； looking widely about me； and enjoying the lesser and quieter aspects of nature。 It was a fine wooded country in which I found myself； and I soon struck off the beaten road and took to the forest and the fields。 In places the ground was almost covered with meadow…rue； like green shadows on the hillsides； not yet in seed； but richly umbrageous。 In the long green grass of the meadows shone the yellow star…flowers； and the sweet…flags were blooming along the marshy edges of the ponds。 The violets had disappeared； but they were succeeded by wild geraniums and rank…growing vetches。
I remember that I kept thinking from time to time； all the forenoon； as my mind went back swiftly and warmly to the two fine friends from whom I had so recently parted：
How the Vedders would enjoy this！ Or； I must tell the Vedders that。 And two or three times I found myself in animated conversations with them in which I generously supplied all three parts。 It may be true for some natures； as Leonardo said； that 〃if you are alone you belong wholly to yourself； if you have a companion； you belong only half to yourself〃； but it is certainly not so with me。 With me friendship never divides： it multiplies。 A friend always makes me more than I am； better than I am； bigger I am。 We two make four； or fifteen； or forty。
Well； I loitered through the fields and woods for a long time that Sunday forenoon； not knowing in the least that Chance held me close by the hand and was leading me onward to great events。 I knew； of course；that I had yet to find a place for the night； and that this might be difficult on Sunday； and yet I spent that forenoon as a man spends his immortal youthwith a glorious disregard for the future。
Some time after noonfor the sun was high and the day was growing much warmer I turned from the road； climbed an inviting little hill； and chose a spot in an old meadow in the shade of an apple tree；and there I lay down on the grass； and looked up into the dusky shadows of the branches above me。 I could feel the soft airs on my face； I could hear the buzzing of bees in the meadow flowers； and by turning my head just a little I could see the slow fleecy clouds； high up； drifting across the perfect blue of the sky。 And the scent of the fields in spring！he who has known it； even once； may indeed die happy。
Men worship God in various ways： seemed to me that Sabbath morning； as I lay quietly there in the warm silence of midday； that I was truly worshipping God。 That Sunday morning everything about me seemed somehow to be a miracle；a miracle gratefully accepted and explainable only by the presence of God。 There was another strange； deep feeling which I had that morning； which I have had a few other times in my life at the rare heights of experienceI hesitate always when I try to put down the deep； deep things of the human hearta feeling immeasurably real； that if I should turn my head quickly I should indeed SEE that Immanent Presence。 。 。 。
One of the few birds I know that sings through the long midday is the vireo。 The vireo sings when otherwise