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。\'
