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。'

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读