This man could read her thought before it was expressed.

He pushed his thick hair from his forehead with a heavy hand.
"Understand, Mrs.Halsey, that I _believe_ the voice of the Lord has spoken, but it is also my desire." "Does the voice of the Lord ever speak but in accordance with your desire ?" The answer burst from him with almost hysterical force, "I would to heaven it did not." "But in such cases are not your desires divided against themselves?
and the word of the Lord comes perhaps in accordance with one desire and in contradiction of another ?" He sat for some time looking absently upon the floor.
"The things of the Lord," he said, "are of vast importance, and require time and experience, as well as deep and solemn thought, to find them out.

And if we would bring the world to salvation it requires that our minds should rise to the highest, and also search into and contemplate the lowest abyss"-- he paused for a moment, and then added in sad undertone--"that is within our own hearts." Susannah was silent, wondering what was the true secret of his elusive thought.
He went on with an effort.

"Accepting your own words, Mrs.Halsey, that it is at my desire that they are there instead of being scattered among friendly settlements where they could obtain support, it remains true that they are naked, hungry, and cold.

When I sleep the vision of their sufferings comes before me." He went on again with more vehemence.