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half…full； and already past her meridian； she filled the clear air
with gentle light。 Not a word broke our silence。 Alan walked
hurriedly； looking straight before him； his head upright； his lips
twitching nervously； while every now and then a half…uttered moan
escaped unconsciously from between them。 At last I could bear it
no longer； and burst forth with the first remark which occurred to
me。 We were passing a big； black； queer…shaped stone standing in
rather a lonely uncultivated spot at one end of the garden。 It was
an old acquaintance of my childhood； but my thoughts had been
turned towards it now from the fact that I could see it from my
bedroom window； and had been struck afresh by its uncouth；
incongruous appearance。
〃Isn't there some story connected with that stone？〃 I asked。 〃I
remember that we always called it the Dead Stone as children。〃
Alan cast a quick； sidelong glance in that direction； and his brows
contracted in an irritable frown。 〃I don't know；〃 he answered
shortly； 〃they say that there is a woman buried beneath it； I
believe。〃
〃A woman buried there！〃 I exclaimed in surprise； 〃but who？〃
〃How should I know？ They know nothing whatever about it。 The
place is full of stupid traditions of that kind。〃 Then； looking
suspiciously round at me； 〃Why do you ask？〃
〃I don't know； it was just something to say；〃 I answered
plaintively。 His strange mood so worked upon my nerves； that it
was all that I could do to restrain my tears。 I think that my tone
struck his conscience； for he made a few feverish attempts at
conversation after that。 But they were so entirely abortive that
he soon abandoned the effort； and we finished our walk to church as
speechlessly as we had begun it。
The service was bright； and the sermon perhaps a little
commonplace； but sensible as it seemed to me in matter； and
adequate in style。 The peaceful evening hymn which followed； the
short solemn pause of silent prayer at the end； soothed and
refreshed my spirit。 A hasty glance at my companion's face as he
stood waiting for me in the porch； with the full light from the
church streaming round him； assured me that the same influence had
touched him too。 Haggard and sad he still looked； it is true； but
his features were composed； and the expression of actual pain had
left his eyes。
Silent as we had come we started homeward through the waning
moonlight； but this silence was of a very different nature to the
other； and after a minute or two I did not hesitate to break it。
〃It was a good sermon？〃 I observed； interrogatively。
〃Yes；〃 he assented； 〃I suppose you would call it so； but I confess
that I should have found the text more impressive without its
exposition。〃
〃Poor man！〃
〃But don't you often find it so？〃 he asked。 〃Do you not often
wish； to take this evening's instance； that clergymen would infuse
themselves with something of St。 Paul's own spirit？ Then perhaps
they would not water all the strength out of his words in their
efforts to explain them。〃
〃That is rather a large demand to make upon them； is it not？〃
〃Is it？〃 he questioned。 〃I don't ask them to be inspired saints。
I don't expect St。 Paul's breadth and depth of thought。 But could
they not have something of his vigorous completeness； something of
the intensity of his feeling and belief？ Look at the text of to…
night。 Did not the preacher's examples and applications take
something from its awful unqualified strength？〃
〃Awful！〃 I exclaimed； in surprise； 〃that is hardly the expression I
should have used in connection with those words。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Oh； I don't know。 The text is very beautiful； of course； and at
times； when people are tiresome and one ought to be nice to them；
it is very difficult to act up to。 But〃
〃But you think that 'awful' is rather a big adjective to use for so
small a duty；〃 interposed Alan； and the moonlight showed the
flicker of a smile upon his face。 Then he continued； gravely； 〃I
doubt whether you yourself realize the full import of the words。
The precept of charity is not merely a code of rules by which to
order our conduct to our neighbors； it is the picture of a
spiritual condition； and such； where it exists in us； must by its
very nature be roused into activity by anything that affects us。
So with this particular injunction； every circumstance in our lives
is a challenge to it； and in presence of all alike it admits of one
attitude only： 'Beareth all things； endureth all things。' I hope
it will be long before that 'all' sticks in your gizzard； Evie；
before you come face to face with things which nature cannot bear；
and yet which must be borne。〃
He stopped； his voice quivering； and then after a pause went on
again more calmly； 〃And throughout it is the same。 Moral precepts
everywhere； which will admit of no compromise； no limitation； and
yet which are at war with our strongest passions。 If one could
only interpose some 'unless；' some 'except；' even an 'until；' which
should be short of the grave。 But we cannot。 The law is infinite；
universal； eternal； there is no escape； no repose。 Resist； strive；
endure； that is the recurring cry； that is existence。〃
〃And peace；〃 I exclaimed； appealingly。 〃Where is there room for
peace； if that be true？〃
He sighed for answer； and then in a changed and lower tone added；
〃However thickly the clouds mass； however vainly we search for a
coming glimmer in their midst； we never doubt that the sky IS still
beyondbeyond and around us； infinite and infinitely restful。〃
He raised his eyes as he spoke； and mine followed his。 We had
entered the wooded glen。 Through the scanty autumn foliage we
could see the stars shining faintly in the dim moonlight； and
beyond them the deep illimitable blue。 A dark world it looked；
distant and mysterious； and my young spirit rebelled at the
consolation offered me。
〃Peace seems a long way off；〃 I whispered。
〃It is for me；〃 he answered； gently； 〃not necessarily for you。〃
〃Oh； but I am worse and weaker than you are。 If life is to be all
warfare； I must be beaten。 I cannot always be fighting。〃
〃Cannot you？ Evie； what I have been saying is true of every moral
law worth having； of every ideal of life worth striving after； that
men have yet conceived。 But it is only half the truth of
Christianity。 You know that。 We must strive； for the promise is
to him that overcometh； but though our aim be even higher than is
that of others； we cannot in the end fail to reach it。 The victory
of the Cross is ours。 You know that？ You believe that？〃
〃Yes〃 I answered； softly； too surprised to say more。 In speaking
of religion he； as a rule； showed to the full the reserve which is
characteristic of his class and country； and this sudden outburst
was in itself astonishing； but the eager anxiety with which he
emphasized the last words of appeal impressed and bewilde