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attempt at more promiscuous visiting； and at carrying out his
principles more thoroughly； had not been unfruitful。 But he must go
and have a talk with Pryer。 He therefore got his lunch and went to
Pryer's lodgings。 Pryer not being at home； he lounged to the
British Museum Reading Room； then recently opened； sent for the
〃Vestiges of Creation；〃 which he had never yet seen； and spent the
rest of the afternoon in reading it。
Ernest did not see Pryer on the day of his conversation with Mr
Shaw； but he did so next morning and found him in a good temper；
which of late he had rarely been。 Sometimes； indeed； he had behaved
to Ernest in a way which did not bode well for the harmony with
which the College of Spiritual Pathology would work when it had once
been founded。 It almost seemed as though he were trying to get a
complete moral ascendency over him； so as to make him a creature of
his own。
He did not think it possible that he could go too far； and indeed；
when I reflect upon my hero's folly and inexperience； there is much
to be said in excuse for the conclusion which Pryer came to。
As a matter of fact； however； it was not so。 Ernest's faith in
Pryer had been too great to be shaken down all in a moment； but it
had been weakened lately more than once。 Ernest had fought hard
against allowing himself to see this； nevertheless any third person
who knew the pair would have been able to see that the connection
between the two might end at any moment； for when the time for one
of Ernest's snipe…like changes of flight came； he was quick in
making it； the time； however； was not yet come； and the intimacy
between the two was apparently all that it had ever been。 It was
only that horrid money business （so said Ernest to himself） that
caused any unpleasantness between them； and no doubt Pryer was
right； and he； Ernest； much too nervous。 However； that might stand
over for the present。
In like manner； though he had received a shock by reason of his
conversation with Mr Shaw； and by looking at the 〃Vestiges；〃 he was
as yet too much stunned to realise the change which was coming over
him。 In each case the momentum of old habits carried him forward in
the old direction。 He therefore called on Pryer； and spent an hour
and more with him。
He did not say that he had been visiting among his neighbours； this
to Pryer would have been like a red rag to a bull。 He only talked
in much his usual vein about the proposed College； the lamentable
want of interest in spiritual things which was characteristic of
modern society； and other kindred matters； he concluded by saying
that for the present he feared Pryer was indeed right； and that
nothing could be done。
〃As regards the laity；〃 said Pryer； 〃nothing； not until we have a
discipline which we can enforce with pains and penalties。 How can a
sheep dog work a flock of sheep unless he can bite occasionally as
well as bark？ But as regards ourselves we can do much。〃
Pryer's manner was strange throughout the conversation； as though he
were thinking all the time of something else。 His eyes wandered
curiously over Ernest； as Ernest had often noticed them wander
before： the words were about Church discipline； but somehow or
other the discipline part of the story had a knack of dropping out
after having been again and again emphatically declared to apply to
the laity and not to the clergy： once indeed Pryer had pettishly
exclaimed： 〃Oh； bother the College of Spiritual Pathology。〃 As
regards the clergy； glimpses of a pretty large cloven hoof kept
peeping out from under the saintly robe of Pryer's conversation； to
the effect； that so long as they were theoretically perfect；
practical peccadilloesor even peccadaccios； if there is such a
word； were of less importance。 He was restless； as though wanting
to approach a subject which he did not quite venture to touch upon；
and kept harping （he did this about every third day） on the wretched
lack of definition concerning the limits of vice and virtue； and the
way in which half the vices wanted regulating rather than
prohibiting。 He dwelt also on the advantages of complete unreserve；
and hinted that there were mysteries into which Ernest had not yet
been initiated； but which would enlighten him when he got to know
them； as he would be allowed to do when his friends saw that he was
strong enough。
Pryer had often been like this before； but never so nearly； as it
seemed to Ernest； coming to a pointthough what the point was he
could not fully understand。 His inquietude was communicating itself
to Ernest； who would probably ere long have come to know as much as
Pryer could tell him； but the conversation was abruptly interrupted
by the appearance of a visitor。 We shall never know how it would
have ended； for this was the very last time that Ernest ever saw
Pryer。 Perhaps Pryer was going to break to him some bad news about
his speculations。
CHAPTER LX
Ernest now went home and occupied himself till luncheon with
studying Dean Alford's notes upon the various Evangelistic records
of the Resurrection； doing as Mr Shaw had told him； and trying to
find out not that they were all accurate； but whether they were all
accurate or no。 He did not care which result he should arrive at；
but he was resolved that he would reach one or the other。 When he
had finished Dean Alford's notes he found them come to this； namely；
that no one yet had succeeded in bringing the four accounts into
tolerable harmony with each other； and that the Dean； seeing no
chance of succeeding better than his predecessors had done；
recommended that the whole story should be taken on trustand this
Ernest was not prepared to do。
He got his luncheon； went out for a long walk； and returned to
dinner at half past six。 While Mrs Jupp was getting him his dinner…
…a steak and a pint of stoutshe told him that Miss Snow would be
very happy to see him in about an hour's time。 This disconcerted
him； for his mind was too unsettled for him to wish to convert
anyone just then。 He reflected a little； and found that； in spite
of the sudden shock to his opinions； he was being irresistibly drawn
to pay the visit as though nothing had happened。 It would not look
well for him not to go； for he was known to be in the house。 He
ought not to be in too great a hurry to change his opinions on such
a matter as the evidence for Christ's Resurrection all of a sudden
besides he need not talk to Miss Snow about this subject to…day
there were other things he might talk about。 What other things？
Ernest felt his heart beat fast and fiercely； and an inward monitor
warned him that he was thinking of anything rather than of Miss
Snow's soul。
What should he do？ Fly； fly； flyit was the only safety。 But
would Christ have fled？ Even though Christ had not died and risen
from the dead there could be no question that He was the model whose
example we were bound to follow。 Christ would not have fled from
Miss Snow； he was sure of that； for He went about more especially
with prostitutes and disreputable people。 Now； as then； it was the
business of the true Christian to call not the righteous but sinn