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pay much attention to them。 The thing was done； he said。 He had
himself seen and talked with Donal； and liked him！ The young man
had himself told him of the clergyman's disapprobation！ He would
request him to avoid all reference to religious subjects！ Therewith
he dismissed the matter； and forgot all about it。 Anything
requiring an effort of the will； an arrangement of ideas； or thought
as to mode； his lordship would not encounter。 Nor was anything to
him of such moment that he must do it at once。 Lady Arctura did not
again refer to the matter： her uncle was not one to take liberties
withleast of all to press to action。 But she continued painfully
doubtful whether she was not neglecting her duty； trying to persuade
herself that she was waiting only till she should have something
definite to say of her own knowledge against him。
And now what was she to conclude from his reading the Apocrypha？
The fact was not to be interpreted to his advantage： was he not
reading what was not the Bible as if it were the Bible； and when he
might have been reading the Bible itself？ Besides； the Apocrypha
came so near the Bible when it was not the Bible！ it must be at
least rather wicked！ At the same time she could not drive from her
mind the impressiveness both of the matter she had heard； and his
manner of reading it： the strong sound of judgment and condemnation
in it came home to hershe could not have told how or why； except
generally because of her sins。 She was one of thosenot very few I
thinkwho from conjunction of a lovely conscience with an
ill…instructed mind； are doomed for a season to much suffering。 She
was largely different from her friend： the religious opinions of the
latterthey were in reality rather metaphysical than religious； and
bad either waythough she clung to them with all the tenacity of a
creature with claws； occasioned her not an atom of mental
discomposure： perhaps that was in part why she clung to them！ they
were as she would have them！ She did not trouble herself about what
God required of her； beyond holding the doctrine the holding of
which guaranteed； as she thought； her future welfare。 Conscience
toward God had very little to do with her opinions； and her heart
still less。 Her head on the contrary； perhaps rather her memory；
was considerably occupied with the matter； nothing she held had ever
been by her regarded on its own meritsthat is； on its individual
claim to truth； if it had been handed down by her church； that was
enough； to support it she would search out text after text； and
press it into the service。 Any meaning but that which the church of
her fathers gave to a passage must be of the devil； and every man
opposed to the truth who saw in that meaning anything but truth！ It
was indeed impossible Miss Carmichael should see any meaning but
that； even if she had looked for it； she was nowise qualified for
discovering truth； not being herself true。 What she saw and loved
in the doctrines of her church was not the truth； but the assertion；
and whoever questioned； not to say the doctrine； but even the
proving of it by any particular passage； was a dangerous person； and
unsound。 All the time her acceptance and defence of any doctrine
made not the slightest difference to her lifeas indeed how should
it？
Such was the only friend lady Arctura had。 But the conscience and
heart of the younger woman were alive to a degree that boded ill
either for the doctrine that stinted their growth； or the nature
unable to cast it off。 Miss Carmichael was a woman about
six…and…twentyand had been a woman； like too many Scotch girls；
long before she was out of her teensa human flower cut and
driedan unpleasant specimen； and by no means valuable from its
scarcity。 Self…sufficient； assured； with scarce shyness enough for
modesty； handsome and hard； she was essentially a self…glorious
Philistine； nor would she be anything better till something was sent
to humble her； though what spiritual engine might be equal to the
task was not for man to imagine。 She was clever； but her cleverness
made nobody happier； she had great confidence； but her confidence
gave courage to no one； and took it from many； she had little fancy；
and less imagination than any other I ever knew。 The divine wonder
was； that she had not yet driven the delicate； truth…loving Arctura
mad。 From her childhood she had had the ordering of all her
opinions： whatever Sophy Carmichael said； lady Arctura never thought
of questioning。 A lie is indeed a thing in its nature unbelievable；
but there is a false belief always ready to receive the false truth；
and there is no end to the mischief the two can work。 The awful
punishment of untruth in the inward parts is that the man is given
over to believe a lie。
Lady Arctura was in herself a gentle creature who shrank from either
giving or receiving a rough touch； but she had an inherited pride；
by herself unrecognized as such； which made her capable of hurting
as well as being hurt。 Next to the doctrines of the Scottish
church； she respected her own family： it had in truth no other claim
to respect than that its little good and much evil had been done
before the eyes of a large part of many generationswhence she was
born to think herself distinguished； and to imagine a claim for the
acknowledgment of distinction upon all except those of greatly
higher rank than her own。 This inborn arrogance was in some degree
modified by respect for the writers of certain booksnot one of
whom was of any regard in the eyes of the thinkers of the age。 Of
any writers of power； beyond those of the Bible； either in this
country or another； she knew nothing。 Yet she had a real instinct
for what was good in literature； and of the writers to whom I have
referred she not only liked the worthiest best； but liked best their
best things。 I need hardly say they were all religious writers； for
the keen conscience and obedient heart of the girl had made her very
early turn herself towards the quarter where the sun ought to rise；
the quarter where all night long gleams the auroral hope； but
unhappily she had not gone direct to the heavenly well in earthly
groundthe words of the Master himself。 How could she？ From very
childhood her mind had been filled with traditionary utterances
concerning the divine character and the divine plansthe merest
inventions of men far more desirous of understanding what they were
not required to understand； than of doing what they were required to
dowhence their crude and false utterances concerning a God of
their own fancyin whom it was a good man's duty； in the name of
any possible God； to disbelieve； and just because she was true；
authority had immense power over her。 The very sweetness of their
nature forbids such to doubt the fitness of others。
She had besides had a governess of the orthodox type； a large
proportion of whose teaching was of the worst heresy； for it was
lies against him who is light； and in whom is no darkness at all；
her doctrines were so many smoked glasses held up between the mind
of her pupil and the glory of the living God； nor had she once
directed her gaze to the