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other friends were； like himself； staid and prim； of evangelical
tendencies； and deeply imbued with a sense of the sinfulness of any
act of insubordination to parentsgood young men； in factand one
cannot blow off steam to a good young man。
When Christina was informed by her lover of his father's opposition；
and of the time which must probably elapse before they could be
married； she offeredwith how much sincerity I know notto set him
free from his engagement； but Theobald declined to be released〃not
at least；〃 as he said； 〃at present。〃 Christina and Mrs Allaby knew
they could manage him； and on this not very satisfactory footing the
engagement was continued。
His engagement and his refusal to be released at once raised
Theobald in his own good opinion。 Dull as he was； he had no small
share of quiet self…approbation。 He admired himself for his
University distinction； for the purity of his life （I said of him
once that if he had only a better temper he would be as innocent as
a new…laid egg） and for his unimpeachable integrity in money
matters。 He did not despair of advancement in the Church when he
had once got a living； and of course it was within the bounds of
possibility that he might one day become a Bishop； and Christina
said she felt convinced that this would ultimately be the case。
As was natural for the daughter and intended wife of a clergyman；
Christina's thoughts ran much upon religion； and she was resolved
that even though an exalted position in this world were denied to
her and Theobald； their virtues should be fully appreciated in the
next。 Her religious opinions coincided absolutely with Theobald's
own； and many a conversation did she have with him about the glory
of God； and the completeness with which they would devote themselves
to it； as soon as Theobald had got his living and they were married。
So certain was she of the great results which would then ensue that
she wondered at times at the blindness shown by Providence towards
its own truest interests in not killing off the rectors who stood
between Theobald and his living a little faster。
In those days people believed with a simple downrightness which I do
not observe among educated men and women now。 It had never so much
as crossed Theobald's mind to doubt the literal accuracy of any
syllable in the Bible。 He had never seen any book in which this was
disputed； nor met with anyone who doubted it。 True； there was just
a little scare about geology； but there was nothing in it。 If it
was said that God made the world in six days； why He did make it in
six days； neither in more nor less； if it was said that He put Adam
to sleep； took out one of his ribs and made a woman of it； why it
was so as a matter of course。 He； Adam； went to sleep as it might
be himself； Theobald Pontifex； in a garden； as it might be the
garden at Crampsford Rectory during the summer months when it was so
pretty； only that it was larger； and had some tame wild animals in
it。 Then God came up to him； as it might be Mr Allaby or his
father； dexterously took out one of his ribs without waking him； and
miraculously healed the wound so that no trace of the operation
remained。 Finally； God had taken the rib perhaps into the
greenhouse； and had turned it into just such another young woman as
Christina。 That was how it was done； there was neither difficulty
nor shadow of difficulty about the matter。 Could not God do
anything He liked； and had He not in His own inspired Book told us
that He had done this？
This was the average attitude of fairly educated young men and women
towards the Mosaic cosmogony fifty； forty； or even twenty years ago。
The combating of infidelity； therefore； offered little scope for
enterprising young clergymen； nor had the Church awakened to the
activity which she has since displayed among the poor in our large
towns。 These were then left almost without an effort at resistance
or co…operation to the labours of those who had succeeded Wesley。
Missionary work indeed in heathen countries was being carried on
with some energy； but Theobald did not feel any call to be a
missionary。 Christina suggested this to him more than once； and
assured him of the unspeakable happiness it would be to her to be
the wife of a missionary； and to share his dangers； she and Theobald
might even be martyred； of course they would be martyred
simultaneously； and martyrdom many years hence as regarded from the
arbour in the Rectory garden was not painful； it would ensure them a
glorious future in the next world； and at any rate posthumous renown
in thiseven if they were not miraculously restored to life again
and such things had happened ere now in the case of martyrs。
Theobald； however； had not been kindled by Christina's enthusiasm；
so she fell back upon the Church of Romean enemy more dangerous；
if possible； than paganism itself。 A combat with Romanism might
even yet win for her and Theobald the crown of martyrdom。 True； the
Church of Rome was tolerably quiet just then； but it was the calm
before the storm； of this she was assured； with a conviction deeper
than she could have attained by any argument founded upon mere
reason。
〃We； dearest Theobald；〃 she exclaimed； 〃will be ever faithful。 We
will stand firm and support one another even in the hour of death
itself。 God in his mercy may spare us from being burnt alive。 He
may or may not do so。 Oh Lord〃 （and she turned her eyes prayerfully
to Heaven）； 〃spare my Theobald； or grant that he may be beheaded。〃
〃My dearest；〃 said Theobald gravely； 〃do not let us agitate
ourselves unduly。 If the hour of trial comes we shall be best
prepared to meet it by having led a quiet unobtrusive life of self…
denial and devotion to God's glory。 Such a life let us pray God
that it may please Him to enable us to pray that we may lead。〃
〃Dearest Theobald；〃 exclaimed Christina； drying the tears that had
gathered in her eyes； 〃you are always； always right。 Let us be
self…denying； pure； upright； truthful in word and deed。〃 She
clasped her hands and looked up to Heaven as she spoke。
〃Dearest；〃 rejoined her lover； 〃we have ever hitherto endeavoured to
be all of these things； we have not been worldly people； let us
watch and pray that we may so continue to the end。〃
The moon had risen and the arbour was getting damp； so they
adjourned further aspirations for a more convenient season。 At
other times Christina pictured herself and Theobald as braving the
scorn of almost every human being in the achievement of some mighty
task which should redound to the honour of her Redeemer。 She could
face anything for this。 But always towards the end of her vision
there came a little coronation scene high up in the golden regions
of the Heavens； and a diadem was set upon her head by the Son of Man
Himself； amid a host of angels and archangels who looked on with
envy and admirationand here even Theobald himself was out of it。
If there could be such a thing as the Mammon of Righteousness
Christina would have assuredly made friends with it。 Her papa and
mamma were very estimable people and would in the course of time
receive Heavenly Mansions in