第3章

Whenluncheonwasoverheaskedhisvisitortowalkwithhimintothegarden，andnosoonerweretheyalonethanhecontinued:\'Well，Mr。Somerset，youaredownheresketchingarchitectureforprofessionalpurposes。Nothingcanbebetter:youareayoungman，andyourartisoneinwhichthereareinnumerablechances。\'

\'Ihadbeguntothinktheywereratherfew，\'saidSomerset。

\'No，theyarenumerousenough:thedifficultyistofindoutwheretheylie。Itisbettertoknowwhereyourluckliesthanwhereyourtalentlies:that\'sanoldman\'sopinion。\'

\'I\'llrememberit，\'saidSomerset。

\'Andnowgivemesomeaccountofyournewclubs，newhotels，andnewmen……WhatIwasgoingtoadd，onthesubjectoffindingoutwhereyourlucklies，isthatnobodyissounfortunateasnottohavealuckystarinsomedirectionorother。Perhapsyoursisattheantipodes；ifso，gothere。

AllIsayis，discoveryourluckystar。\'

\'Iamlookingforit。\'

\'Youmaybeabletodotwothings；onewell，theotherbutindifferently，andyetyoumayhavemoreluckinthelatter。

Thensticktothatone，andnevermindwhatyoucandobest。

Yourstarliesthere。\'

\'ThereIamnotquiteatonewithyou，SirWilliam。\'

\'Youshouldbe。NotthatImeantosaythatluckliesinanyoneplacelong，oratanyoneperson\'sdoor。Fortunelikesnewfaces，andyourwisdomliesinbringingyouracquisitionsintosafetywhileherfavourlasts。Todothatyoumustmakefriendsinhertimeofsmiles——makefriendswithpeople，whereveryoufindthem。Mydaughterhasunconsciouslyfollowedthatmaxim。Shehasstruckupawarmfriendshipwithourneighbour，MissPower，atthecastle。Wearediametricallydifferentfromherinassociations，traditions，ideas，religion——shecomesofaviolentdissentingfamilyamongotherthings——butIsaytoCharlottewhatIsaytoyou:

winaffectionandregardwhereveryoucan，andaccommodateyourselftothetimes。Iputnothinginthewayoftheirintimacy，andwiselyso，forbythissomanypleasanthoursareaddedtothesumtotalvouchsafedtohumanity。\'

ItwasquitelateintheafternoonwhenSomersettookhisleave。MissDeStancydidnotreturntothecastlethatnight，andhewalkedthroughthewoodashehadcome，feelingthathehadbeentalkingwithamanofsimplenature，whoflatteredhisownunderstandingbydevisingMachiavelliantheoriesaftertheevent，toaccountforanyspontaneousactionofhimselforhisdaughter，whichmightotherwiseseemeccentricorirregular。

BeforeSomersetreachedtheinnhewasovertakenbyaslightshower，andonenteringthehousehewalkedintothegeneralroom，wheretherewasafire，andstoodwithonefootonthefender。Thelandlordwastalkingtosomeguestwhosatbehindascreen；and，probablybecauseSomersethadbeenseenpassingthewindow，andwasknowntobesketchingatthecastle，theconversationturnedonSirWilliamDeStancy。

\'Ihaveoftennoticed，\'observedthelandlord，\'thatvolkswhohavecometogrief，andquitefailed，havetheruleshowtosucceedinlifemoreattheirvingers\'endsthanvolkswhohavesucceeded。IassureyouthatSirWilliam，sofullasheisofwisemaxims，neveracteduponawisemaximinhislife，untilhehadlosteverything，anditdidn\'tmatterwhetherhewaswiseorno。Youknowwhathewasinhisyoungdays，ofcourse?\'

\'No，Idon\'t，\'saidtheinvisiblestranger。

\'O，IthoughteverybodyknewpoorSirWilliam\'shistory。Hewasthestar，asImayzay，ofgoodcompanyfortyyearsago。

Irememberhimintheheightofhisjinks，asIusedtozeehimwhenIwasaverylittleboy，andthinkhowgreatandwonderfulhewas。Icanseemtozeenowtheexactstyleofhisclothes；whitehat，whitetrousers，whitesilkhandkerchief；andhisjonnickface，aswhiteashisclotheswithkeepinglatehours。Therewasnothingblackabouthimbuthishairandhiseyes——heworenobeardatthattime——andtheywereblackasslooes。Thelikeofhiscomingontherace-

coursewasneverseenthereaforenorsince。Hedrovehisikkipagehisself；anditwasalwayshauledbyfourbeautifulwhitehorses，andtwooutridersrodeinharnessbridles。

Therewasagroombehindhim，andanotherattherubbing-post，allinliveryasgloriousasNewJerusalem。Whata\'stablishmenthekeptupatthattime!Icanmindhim，sir，withthirtyrace-horsesintrainingatonce，seventeencoach-

horses，twelvehuntersathisboxt\'othersideofLondon，fourchargersatBudmouth，andeversomanyhacks。\'

\'Andhelostallbyhisracingspeculations?\'thestrangerobserved；andSomersetfanciedthatthevoicehadinitsomethingmorethanthelanguidcarelessnessofacasualsojourner。

\'Partlybythat，partlyinotherways。Hespentaminto\'

moneyinawildprojectoffoundingawatering-place；andsunkthousandsinauselesssilvermine；so\'twasnowonderthatthecastlenamedafterhimvellintootherhands……Thewayitwasdonewascurious。Mr。Wilkins，whowasthefirstownerafteritwentfromSirWilliam，actuallysatdownasaguestathistable，andgotupastheowner。Hetookoff，ataroundsum，everythingsaleable，furniture，plate，pictures，eventhemilkandbutterinthedairy。That\'showthepicturesandfurniturecometobeinthecastlestill；

wormeatenrubbishzomeo\'it，andhardlyworthmoving。\'

\'AndoffwentthebaronettoMyrtleVilla?\'

\'Ono!hewentawayformanyyears。\'Tisquitelately，sincehisillness，thathecametothatlittleplace，inzightofthestonewallsthatweretheprideofhisforefathers。\'

\'FromwhatIhear，hehasnotthemannerofabroken-heartedman?\'

\'Notatall。Sincethatillnesshehasbeenhappy，asyouseehim:nopride，quitecalmandmild；atnewmoonquitechildish。\'Tisthatmakeshimabletolivethere；beforehewassoillhecouldn\'tbearazightoftheplace，butsincethenheishappynowhereelse，andneverleavestheparishfurtherthantodriveonceaweektoMarkton。Hisheadwon\'tstandsocietynowadays，andhelivesquitelonelyasyouzee，onlyzeeinghisdaughter，orhissonwheneverhecomeshome，whichisnotoften。Theysaythatifhisbrainhadn\'tsoftenedalittlehewouldha\'died——\'twasthatsavedhislife。\'

\'What\'sthisIhearabouthisdaughter?Isshereallyhiredcompaniontothenewowner?\'

\'Nowthat\'sacuriousthingagain，thesetwogirlsbeingsofondofoneanother；oneof\'emadissenter，andallthat，andt\'otheraDeStancy。Ono，nothiredexactly，butshemostlyliveswithMissPower，andgoesaboutwithher，andIdaresayMissPowermakesitwo\'thherwhile。Onecan\'tmoveastepwithouttheotherfollowing；thoughjudgingbyordinaryvolksyou\'dthink\'twouldbeacat-and-dogfriendshiprather。\'

\'But\'tisnot?\'

\'\'Tisnot；theybemorelikeloversthanmaidandmaid。MissPowerislookeduptobylittleDeStancyasifshewereagod-a\'mighty，andMissPowerletsherlovehertoherheart\'scontent。ButwhetherMissPowerlovesbackagainIcan\'tzay，forshe\'sasdeepastheNorthStar。\'

Thelandlordhereleftthestrangertogotosomeotherpartofthehouse，andSomersetdrewneartotheglasspartitiontogainaglimpseofamanwhoseinterestintheneighbourhoodseemedtohavearisensosimultaneouslywithhisown。Buttheinnerroomwasempty:themanhadapparentlydepartedbyanotherdoor。

VI。

ThetelegraphhadalmosttheattributesofahumanbeingatStancyCastle。Whenitsbellrangpeoplerushedtotheoldtapestriedchamberallottedtoit，andwaiteditspleasurewithallthedeferenceduetosuchanovelinhabitantofthatancestralpile。Thishappenedonthefollowingafternoonaboutfouro\'clock，whileSomersetwassketchingintheroomadjoiningthatoccupiedbytheinstrument。Hearingitscall，helookedintolearnifanybodywereattending，andfoundMissDeStancybendingoverit。

Shewelcomedhimwithouttheleastembarrassment。\'Anothermessage，\'shesaid——\'"PaulatoCharlotte——HavereturnedtoMarkton。Amstartingforhome。Willbeatthegatebetweenfourandfiveifpossible。"\'

MissDeStancyblushedwithpleasurewhensheraisedhereyesfromthemachine。\'Isshenotthoughtfultoletmeknowbeforehand?\'

Somersetsaidshecertainlyappearedtobe，feelingatthesametimethathewasnotinpossessionofsufficientdatatomaketheopinionofgreatvalue。

\'NowImustgeteverythingready，andorderwhatshewillwant，asMrs。Goodmanisaway。Whatwillshewant?Dinnerwouldbebest——shehashadnolunch，Iknow；orteaperhaps，anddinnerattheusualtime。Still，ifshehashadnolunch——

Hark，whatdoIhear?\'

Sherantoanarrow-slit，andSomerset，whohadalsoheardsomething，lookedoutofanadjoiningone。Theycouldseefromtheirelevatedpositionagreatwayalongthewhiteroad，stretchinglikeatapeamidthegreenexpansesoneachside。

Therehadarisenacloudofdust，accompaniedbyanoiseofwheels。

\'Itisshe，\'saidCharlotte。\'Oyes——itispastfour——thetelegramhasbeendelayed。\'

\'Howwouldshebelikelytocome?\'

\'Shehasdoubtlesshiredacarriageattheinn:shesaiditwouldbeuselesstosendtomeether，asshecouldn\'tnameatime……Whereisshenow?\'

\'Justwheretheboughsofthosebeechesoverhangtheroad——

theresheisagain!\'

MissDeStancywentawaytogivedirections，andSomersetcontinuedtowatch。Thevehicle，whichwasofnogreatpretension，sooncrossedthebridgeandstopped:therewasaringatthebell；andMissDeStancyreappeared。

\'Didyouseeherasshedroveup——isshenotinteresting?\'

\'Icouldnotseeher。\'

\'Ah，no——ofcourseyoucouldnotfromthiswindowbecauseofthetrees。Mr。Somerset，willyoucomedownstairs?Youwillhavetomeether，youknow。\'

Somersetfeltanindescribablebackwardness。\'Iwillgoonwithmysketching，\'hesaid。\'Perhapsshewillnotbe——\'

\'O，butitwouldbequitenatural，woulditnot?Ourmannersareeasierhere，youknow，thantheyareintown，andMissPowerhasadaptedherselftothem。\'

AcompromisewaseffectedbySomersetdeclaringthathewouldholdhimselfinreadinesstobediscoveredonthelandingatanyconvenienttime。

Aservantentered。\'MissPower?\'saidMissDeStancy，beforehecouldspeak。

Themanadvancedwithacard:MissDeStancytookitup，andreadthereon:\'Mr。WilliamDare。\'

\'ItisnotMissPowerwhohascome，then?\'sheasked，withadisappointedface。

\'No，ma\'am。\'

Shelookedagainatthecard。\'Thisissomemanofbusiness，Isuppose——doeshewanttoseeme?\'

\'Yes，miss。Leastwise，hewouldbegladtoseeyouifMissPowerisnotathome。\'

MissDeStancylefttheroom，andsoonreturned，saying，\'Mr。

Somerset，canyougivemeyourcounselinthismatter?ThisMr。Daresaysheisaphotographicamateur，anditseemsthathewrotesometimeagotoMissPower，whogavehimpermissiontotakeviewsofthecastle，andpromisedtoshowhimthebestpoints。ButIhaveheardnothingofit，andscarcelyknowwhetherIoughttotakehiswordinherabsence。Mrs。

Goodman，MissPower\'srelative，whousuallyattendstothesethings，isaway。\'

\'Idaresayitisallright，\'saidSomerset。

\'Wouldyoumindseeinghim?Ifyouthinkitquiteinorder，perhapsyouwillinstructhimwherethebestviewsaretobeobtained?\'

ThereuponSomersetatoncewentdowntoMr。Dare。HiscomingasasortofcounterfeitofMissPowerdisposedSomersettojudgehimwithasmuchseverityasjusticewouldallow，andhismannerforthemomentwasnotofakindcalculatedtodissipateantagonisticinstincts。Mr。Darewasstandingbeforethefireplacewithhisfeetwideapart，andhishandsinthepocketsofhiscoat-tails，lookingatacarvingoverthemantelpiece。HeturnedquicklyatthesoundofSomerset\'sfootsteps，andrevealedhimselfasapersonquiteoutofthecommon。

Hisageitwasimpossibletosay。Therewasnotahaironhisfacewhichcouldservetohangaguessupon。Inreposeheappearedaboy；buthisactionsweresocompletelythoseofamanthatthebeholder\'sfirstestimateofsixteenashisagewashastilycorrectedtosix-and-twenty，andafterwardsshiftedhitherandthitheralonginterveningyearsasthetenorofhissentencessenthimupordown。Hehadabroadforehead，verticalasthefaceofabastion，andhishair，whichwaspartedinthemiddle，hungasafringeorvalanceabove，inthefashionsometimesaffectedbytheothersex。Heworeaheavyring，ofwhichthegoldseemedfair，thediamondquestionable，andthetasteindifferent。Thereweretheremainsofaswaggerinhisbodyandlimbsashecameforward，regardingSomersetwithaconfidentsmile，asifthewonderwere，notwhyMr。Dareshouldbepresent，butwhySomersetshouldbepresentlikewise；andthefirsttonethatcamefromDare\'slipswounduphislistener\'sopinionthathedidnotlikehim。

Alatentpowerintheman，orboy，wasrevealedbythecircumstancethatSomersetdidnotfeel，ashewouldordinarilyhavedone，thatitwasamatterofprofoundindifferencetohimwhetherthisgentleman-photographerwerealikeablepersonorno。

\'Ihavecalledbyappointment；orrather，Ileftacardstatingthatto-daywouldsuitme，andnoobjectionwasmade。\'

Somersetrecognizedthevoice；itwasthatoftheinvisiblestrangerwhohadtalkedwiththelandlordabouttheDeStancys。Mr。Darethenproceededtoexplainhisbusiness。

Somersetfoundfromhisinquiriesthatthemanhadunquestionablybeeninstructedbysomebodytotaketheviewshespokeof；andconcludedthatDare\'scuriosityattheinnwas，afterall，naturallyexplainedbyhiserrandtothisplace。Blaminghimselfforatoohastycondemnationofthestranger，whothoughvisuallyalittletooassuredwascivilenoughverbally，Somersetproceededwiththeyoungphotographertosundrycornersoftheouterward，andthenceacrossthemoattothefield，suggestingadvantageouspointsofview。Theoffice，beingashadowofhisownpursuits，wasnotuncongenialtoSomerset，andheforgototherthingsinattendingtoit。

\'Nowinourcountryweshouldstandfurtherbackthanthis，andsogetamorecomprehensivecoupd\'oeil，\'saidDare，asSomersetselectedagoodsituation。

\'YouarenotanEnglishman，then，\'saidSomerset。

\'IhavelivedmostlyinIndia，Malta，Gibraltar，theIonianIslands，andCanada。Ithereinventedanewphotographicprocess，whichIambentuponmakingfamous。YetIambutadilettante，anddonotfollowthisartatthebasedictationofwhatmencallnecessity。\'

\'Oindeed，\'Somersetreplied。

Assoonasthisbusinesswasdisposedof，andMr。Darehadbroughtuphisvanandassistanttobeginoperations，Somersetreturnedtothecastleentrance。Whileunderthearchwayamanwithaprofessionallookdroveupinadog-cartandinquiredifMissPowerwereathometo-day。

\'Shehasnotyetreturned，Mr。Havill，\'wasthereply。

Somerset，whohadhopedtohearanaffirmativebythistime，thoughtthatMissPowerwasbentondisappointinghimintheflesh，notwithstandingtheinterestsheexpressedinhimbytelegraph；andasitwasnowdrawingtowardstheendoftheafternoon，hewalkedoffinthedirectionofhisinn。

Thereweretwoorthreewaystothatspot，butthepleasantestwasbypassingthrougharamblingshrubbery，betweenwhosebushestrickledabroadshallowbrook，occasionallyinterceptedinitscoursebyatransversechainofoldstones，evidentlyfromthecastlewalls，whichformedaminiaturewaterfall。Thewalklayalongtheriver-brink。SoonSomersetsawbeforehimacircularsummer-houseformedofshortsticksnailedtoornamentalpatterns。Outsidethestructure，andimmediatelyinthepath，stoodamanwithabookinhishand；

anditwaspresentlyapparentthatthisgentlemanwasholdingaconversationwithsomepersoninsidethepavilion，butthebackofthebuildingbeingtowardsSomerset，thesecondindividualcouldnotbeseen。

Thespeakeratonemomentglancedintotheinterior，andatanotherattheadvancingformofthearchitect，whom，thoughdistinctlyenoughbeheld，theotherscarcelyappearedtoheedintheabsorbinginterestofhisowndiscourse。SomersetbecameawarethatitwastheBaptistminister，whoserhetorichehadheardinthechapelyonder。

\'Now，\'continuedtheBaptistminister，\'willyouexpresstomeanyreasonorobjectionwhateverwhichinducesyoutowithdrawfromourcommunion?Itwasthatofyourfather，andofhisfatherbeforehim。AnydifficultyyoumayhavemetwithI

willhonestlytrytoremove；forIneedhardlysaythatinlosingyouweloseoneofthemostvaluedmembersoftheBaptistchurchinthisdistrict。Ispeakwithalltherespectduetoyourposition，whenIaskyoutorealizehowirreparableistheinjuryyouinflictuponthecauseherebythislukewarmbackwardness。\'

\'Idon\'twithdraw，\'saidawoman\'slowvoicewithin。

Therewasnoreply。

\'Orforyourrefusaltoproceedwiththebaptism?\'

\'Ihavebeenchristened。\'

\'Mydearyounglady，itiswellknownthatyourchristeningwastheworkofyouraunt，whodiditunknowntoyourparentswhenshehadyouinherpower，outofpureobstinacytoachurchwithwhichshewasnotinsympathy，takingyousurreptitiously，andindefensibly，tothefontoftheEstablishment；sothattheritemeantandcouldmeannothingatall……ButIfearthatyournewpositionhasbroughtyouintocontactwiththePaedobaptists，thattheyhavedisturbedyouroldprinciples，andsoinducedyoutobelieveinthevalidityofthattrumperyceremony!\'

\'Itseemssufficient。\'

\'Iwilldemolishthebasisofthatseeminginthreeminutes，givemebutthattimeasalistener。\'

\'Ihavenoobjection。\'

\'Verywell……First，then，Iwillassumethatthosewhohaveinfluencedyouinthematterhavenotbeenabletomakeanyimpressionupononesowellgroundedasyourselfinourdistinctivedoctrine，bythestaleoldargumentdrawnfromcircumcision?\'

\'Youmayassumeit。\'

\'Good——thatclearstheground。AndwenowcometotheNewTestament。\'

TheministerbegantoturnovertheleavesofhislittleBible，whichitimpressedSomersettoobservewasboundwithaflap，likeapocketbook，theblacksurfaceoftheleatherbeingwornbrownatthecornersbylongusage。HeturnedontillhecametothebeginningoftheNewTestament，andthencommencedhisdiscourse。Afterexplaininghisposition，theoldmanranveryablythroughthearguments，citingwell-knownwritersonthepointindisputewhenherequiredmorefinishedsentencesthanhisown。

Theminister\'searnestnessandinterestinhisowncaseledhimunconsciouslytoincludeSomersetinhisaudienceastheyoungmandrewnearer；till，insteadoffixinghiseyesexclusivelyonthepersonwithinthesummer-house，thepreacherbegantodirectagoodproportionofhisdiscourseuponhisnewauditor，turningfromonelistenertotheotherattentively，withoutseemingtofeelSomerset\'spresenceassuperfluous。

\'Andnow，\'hesaidinconclusion，\'Iputittoyou，sir，astoher:doyoufindanyflawinmyargument?Isthere，madam，asingletextwhich，honestlyinterpreted，affordstheleastfootholdforthePaedobaptists；inotherwords，foryouropinionontheefficacyoftheriteadministeredtoyouinyourunconsciousinfancy?Iputittoyoubothashonestandresponsiblebeings。\'Heturnedagaintotheyoungman。

IthappenedthatSomersethadbeenoverthisgroundlongago。

Born，sotospeak，aHigh-Churchinfant，inhisyouthhehadbeenofathoughtfulturn，tillatonetimeanideaofhisenteringtheChurchhadbeenentertainedbyhisparents。Hehadformedacquaintancewithmenofalmosteveryvarietyofdoctrinalpracticeinthiscountry；and，asthepleadingsofeachassailedhimbeforehehadarrivedatanageofsufficientmentalstabilitytoresistnewimpressions，howeverbadlysubstantiated，heinclinedtoeachdenominationasitpresenteditself，was\'Everythingbystarts，andnothinglong，\'

tillhehadtravelledthroughagreatmanybeliefsanddoctrineswithoutfeelinghimselfmuchbetterthanwhenhesetout。

Astudyoffontsandtheiroriginhadqualifiedhiminthisparticularsubject。Fullyconsciousoftheinexpediencyofcontestsonminorritualdifferences，heyetfeltasuddenimpulsetowardsamildintellectualtournamentwiththeeageroldman——purelyasanexerciseofhiswitsinthedefenceofafairgirl。

\'Sir，Iacceptyourchallengetous，\'saidSomerset，advancingtotheminister\'sside。

VII。

Atthesoundofanewvoicetheladyinthebowerstarted，ashecouldseebyheroutlinethroughthecrevicesofthewood-

workandcreepers。Theministerlookedsurprised。

\'YouwilllendmeyourBible，sir，toassistmymemory?\'hecontinued。

TheministerheldouttheBiblewithsomereluctance，butheallowedSomersettotakeitfromhishand。Thelatter，steppinguponalargemoss-coveredstonewhichstoodnear，andlayinghishatonaflatbeechboughthatroseandfellbehindhim，pointedtotheministertoseathimselfonthegrass。

Theministerlookedatthegrass，andlookedupagainatSomerset，butdidnotmove。

Somersetforthemomentwasnotobservinghim。Hisnewpositionhadturnedouttobeexactlyoppositetheopensideofthebower，andnowforthefirsttimehebeheldtheinterior。Ontheseatwasthewomanwhohadstoodbeneathhiseyesinthechapel，the\'Paula\'ofMissDeStancy\'senthusiasticeulogies。Sheworeasummerhat，beneathwhichherfaircurlyhairformedathicketroundherforehead。Itwouldbeimpossibletodescribeherasshethenappeared。NotsensuousenoughforanAphrodite，andtoosubduedforaHebe，shewouldyet，withtheadjunctofdovesornectar，havestoodsufficientlywellforeitherofthosepersonages，ifpresentedinapinkmorninglight，andwithmythologicalscarcityofattire。

Halfinsurprisesheglancedupathim；andloweringhereyesagain，asifnosurprisewereeverletinfluenceheractionsformorethanamoment，shesatonasbefore，lookingpastSomerset\'spositionattheviewdowntheriver，visibleforalongdistancebeforehertillitwaslostunderthebendingtrees。

Somersetturnedovertheleavesoftheminister\'sBible，andbegan:——

\'IntheFirstEpistletotheCorinthians，theseventhchapterandthefourteenthverse——\'。

Heretheyoungladyraisedhereyesinspiteofherreserve，butitbeing，apparently，toomuchlabourtokeepthemraised，allowedherglancetosubsideuponherjetnecklace，extendingitwiththethumbofherlefthand。

\'Sir!\'saidtheBaptistexcitedly，\'Iknowthatpassagewell——

itisthelastrefugeofthePaedobaptists——Iforeseeyourargument。Ihavemetitdozensoftimes，anditisnotworththatsnapofthefingers!Itisworthnomorethantheargumentfromcircumcision，ortheSuffer-little-childrenargument。\'

\'ThenturntothesixteenthchapteroftheActs，andthethirty-third——\'

\'That，too，\'criedtheminister，\'isansweredbywhatIsaidbefore!Iperceive，sir，thatyouadoptthemethodofaspecialpleader，andnotthatofanhonestinquirer。Isit，orisitnot，ananswertomyproofsfromtheeighthchapteroftheActs，thethirty-sixthandthirty-seventhverses；thesixteenthofMark，sixteenthverse；secondofActs，forty-

firstverse；thetenthandtheforty-seventhverse；ortheeighteenthandeighthverse?\'

\'Verywell，then。Letmeprovethepointbyotherreasoning——

bytheargumentfromApostolictradition。\'Hethrewtheminister\'sbookuponthegrass，andproceededwithhiscontention，whichcomprisedafairlygoodexpositionoftheearliestpracticeoftheChurchandinferencestherefrom。

(Whenhereachedthispointaninterestinhisoff-handargumentswasrevealedbythemobilebosomofMissPaulaPower，thoughshestilloccupiedherselfbydrawingoutthenecklace。TestimonyfromJustinMartyrfollowed；withinferencesfromIrenaeusintheexpression，\'Omnesenimvenitpersemetipsumsalvare；omnesinquam，quipereumrenascunturinDeum，INFANTESetparvulosetpuerosetjuvenes。\'(AtthesoundofsomuchseriousnessPaulaturnedhereyesuponthespeakerwithattention。)Henextadducedproofofthesignificationof\'renascor\'inthewritingsoftheFathers，asreasonedbyWall；argumentsfromTertullian\'sadvicetodefertherite；citationsfromCyprian，Nazianzen，Chrysostom，andJerome；andbrieflysummedupthewholematter。

Somersetlookedroundfortheministerasheconcluded。Buttheoldman，afterstandingfacetofacewiththespeaker，hadturnedhisbackuponhim，andduringthelatterportionsoftheattackhadmovedslowlyaway。Henowlookedback；hiscountenancewasfullofcommiseratingreproachasheliftedhishand，twiceshookhishead，andsaid，\'IntheEpistletothePhilippians，firstchapterandsixteenthverse，itiswrittenthattherearesomewhopreachincontentionandnotsincerely。AndintheSecondEpistletoTimothy，fourthchapterandfourthverse，attentionisdrawntothosewhoseearsrefusethetruth，andareturneduntofables。Iwishyougoodafternoon，sir，andthatpricelessgift，SINCERITY。\'

Theministervanishedbehindthetrees；SomersetandMissPowerbeingleftconfrontingeachotheralone。

Somersetsteppedasidefromthestone，hatinhand，atthesamemomentinwhichMissPowerrosefromherseat。Shehesitatedforaninstant，andsaid，withaprettygirlishstiffness，sweepingbacktheskirtofherdresstofreehertoesinturning:\'Althoughyouarepersonallyunknowntome，Icannotleaveyouwithoutexpressingmydeepsenseofyourprofoundscholarship，andmyadmirationforthethoroughnessofyourstudiesindivinity。\'

\'Youropiniongivesmegreatpleasure，\'saidSomerset，bowing，andfairlyblushing。\'But，believeme，Iamnoscholar，andnotheologian。MyknowledgeofthesubjectarisessimplyfromtheaccidentthatsomefewyearsagoIlookedintothequestionforaspecialreason。InthestudyofmyprofessionIwasinterestedinthedesigningoffontsandbaptisteries，andbyanaturalprocessIwasledtoinvestigatethehistoryofbaptism；andsomeoftheargumentsIthenlearntupstillremainwithme。That\'sthesimpleexplanationofmyerudition。\'

\'Ifyoursermonsatthechurchonlymatchyouraddressto-day，Ishallnotwonderathearingthattheparishionersareatlastwillingtoattend。\'

ItflasheduponSomerset\'smindthatshesupposedhimtobethenewcurate，ofwhosearrivalhehadcasuallyheard，duringhissojournattheinn。Beforehecouldbringhimselftocorrectanerrortowhich，perhaps，morethantoanythingelse，wasowingthefriendlinessofhermanner，shewenton，asiftoescapetheembarrassmentofsilence:——

\'IneedhardlysaythatIatleastdonotdoubtthesincerityofyourarguments。\'

\'Nevertheless，Iwasnotaltogethersincere，\'heanswered。

Shewassilent。

\'Thenwhyshouldyouhavedeliveredsuchadefenceofme?\'sheaskedwithsimplecuriosity。

Somersetinvoluntarilylookedinherfaceforhisanswer。

Paulaagainteasedthenecklace。\'WouldyouhavespokensoeloquentlyontheothersideifI——ifoccasionhadserved?\'

sheinquiredshyly。

\'PerhapsIwould。\'

Anotherpause，tillshesaid，\'I，too，wasinsincere。\'

\'You?\'

\'Iwas。\'

\'Inwhatway?，\'Inlettinghim，andyou，thinkIhadbeenatallinfluencedbyauthority，scripturalorpatristic。\'

\'MayIask，why，then，didyoudeclinetheceremonytheotherevening?\'

\'Ah，you，too，haveheardofit!\'shesaidquickly。

\'No。\'

\'Whatthen?\'

\'Isawit。\'

Sheblushedandlookeddowntheriver。\'Icannotgivemyreasons，\'shesaid。

\'Ofcoursenot，\'saidSomerset。

\'Iwouldgiveagreatdealtopossessreallogicaldogmatism。\'

\'SowouldI。\'

Therewasamomentofembarrassment:shewantedtogetaway，butdidnotpreciselyknowhow。Hewouldhavewithdrawnhadshenotsaid，asifratheroppressedbyherconscience，andevidentlystillthinkinghimthecurate:\'IcannotbutfeelthatMr。Woodwell\'shearthasbeenunnecessarilywounded。\'

\'Theminister\'s?\'

\'Yes。Heissingle-mindednessitself。Hegivesawaynearlyallhehastothepoor。Heworksamongthesick，carryingthemnecessarieswithhisownhands。Heteachestheignorantmenandladsofthevillagewhenheoughttoberestingathome，tillheisabsolutelyprostratefromexhaustion，andthenhesitsupatnightwritingencouragingletterstothosepoorpeoplewhoformerlybelongedtohiscongregationinthevillage，andhavenowgoneaway。Healwaysoffendsladies，becausehecan\'thelpspeakingthetruthashebelievesit；

buthehasn\'toffendedme!\'

Herfeelingshadrisentowardstheend，sothatshefinishedquitewarmly，andturnedaside。

\'Iwasnotintheleastawarethathewassuchaman，\'

murmuredSomerset，lookingwistfullyaftertheminister……

\'Whateveryoumayhavedone，IfearthatIhavegrievouslywoundedaworthyman\'sheartfromanidlewishtoengageinauseless，unbecoming，dull，last-centuryargument。\'

\'Notdull，\'shemurmured，\'foritinterestedme。\'

Somersetacceptedhercorrectionwillingly。\'Itwasill-

consideredofme，however，\'hesaid；\'andinhisdistresshehasforgottenhisBible。\'Hewentandpickedupthewornvolumefromwhereitlayonthegrass。

\'Youcaneasilywinhimtoforgiveyou，byjustfollowing，andreturningthebooktohim，\'sheobserved。

\'Iwill，\'saidtheyoungmanimpulsively。And，bowingtoher，hehastenedalongtheriverbrinkaftertheminister。Heatlengthsawhisfriendbeforehim，leaningoverthegatewhichledfromtheprivatepathintoalane，hischeekrestingonthepalmofhishandwitheveryoutwardsignofabstraction。

HewasnotconsciousofSomerset\'spresencetillthelattertouchedhimontheshoulder。

Neverwasareconciliationeffectedmorereadily。WhenSomersetsaidthat，fearinghismotivesmightbemisconstrued，hehadfollowedtoassuretheministerofhisgoodwillandesteem，Mr。Woodwellheldouthishand，andprovedhisfriendlinessinreturnbypreparingtohavethecontroversyontheirreligiousdifferencesoveragainfromthebeginning，withexhaustivedetail。Somersetevadedthiswithalacrity，andoncehavingwonhiscompaniontoothersubjectshefoundthattheausteremanhadasmileaspleasantasaninfant\'sontheraremomentswhenheindulgedinit；moreover，thathewaswarmlyattachedtoMissPower。

\'ThoughshegivesmemoretroublethanalltherestoftheBaptistchurchinthisdistrict，\'hesaid，\'Iloveherasmyowndaughter。ButIamsadlyexercisedtoknowwhatsheisatheart。Heavensupplymewithfortitudetocontestherwildopinions，andintractability!Butshehassweetvirtues，andherconductattimescanbemostendearing。\'

\'Ibelieveit!\'saidSomerset，withmorefervourthanmerepolitenessrequired。

\'SometimesIthinkthoseStancytowersandlandswillbeacursetoher。Thespiritofoldpapisticaltimesstilllingersinthenooksofthosesilentwalls，likeabadodourinastillatmosphere，dullingtheiconoclasticemotionsofthetruePuritan。Itwouldbeapityindeedifsheweretobetaintedbytheverysituationthatherfather\'sindomitableenergycreatedforher。\'