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。"