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。'