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But as if she heard neither of them； Arctura went on；
〃If it were but true！〃 she moaned。 〃It would set right everything on
the face of the earth！〃
〃You mean far more than that； my lady！〃 said Donal。 〃You mean
everything in the human heart； which will to all eternity keep
moaning and crying out for the Father of it； until it is one with
its one relation！〃
He lifted his bonnet； and would have passed on。
〃One word； Mr。 Grant；〃 said Miss Carmichael。 〃No man holding such
doctrines could with honesty become a clergyman of the church of
Scotland。〃
〃Very likely；〃 replied Donal； 〃Good afternoon。〃
〃Thank you； Mr。 Grant！〃 said Arctura。 〃I hope you are right。〃
When he was gone； the ladies resumed their walk in silence。 At
length Miss Carmichael spoke。
〃Well； I must say； of all the conceited young men I have had the
misfortune to meet； your Mr。 Grant bears the palm！ Such
self…assurance！ such presumption！ such forwardness！〃
〃Are you certain； Sophia；〃 rejoined Arctura； 〃that it is
self…assurance； and not conviction that gives him his courage？〃
〃He is a teacher of lies！ He goes dead against all that good men say
and believe！ The thing is as clear as daylight： he is altogether
wrong！〃
〃What if God be sending fresh light into the minds of his people？〃
〃The old light is good enough for me！〃
〃But it may not be good enough for God！ What if Mr。 Grant should be
his messenger to you and me！〃
〃A likely thing！ A raw student from the hills of Daurside！〃
〃I cherish a profound hope that he may be in the right。 Much good；
you know； did come out of Galilee！ Every place and every person is
despised by somebody！〃
〃Arctura！ He has infected you with his frightful irreverence！〃
〃If he be a messenger of Jesus Christ；〃 said Arctura； quietly； 〃he
has had from you the reception he would expect； for the disciple
must be as his master。〃
Miss Carmichael stood still abruptly。 Her face was in a flame； but
her words came cold and hard。
〃I am sorry；〃 she said； 〃our friendship should come to so harsh a
conclusion； lady Arctura； but it is time it should end when you
speak so to one who has been doing her best for so long to enlighten
you！ If this be the first result of your new gospelwell！ Remember
who said； 'If an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you
than I have preached； let him be accursed！〃
She turned back。
〃Oh； Sophia； do not leave me so！〃 cried Arctura。
But she was already yards away； her skirt making a small whirlwind
that went after her through the withered leaves。 Arctura burst into
tears； and sat down at the foot of one of the great beeches。 Miss
Carmichael never looked behind her。 She met Donal again； for he too
had turned： he uncovered； but she took no heed。 She had done with
him！ Her poor Arctura。
Donal was walking gently on； thinking； with closed book； when the
wind bore to his ear a low sob from Arctura。 He looked up； and saw
her： she sat weeping like one rejected。 He could not pass or turn
and leave her thus！ She heard his steps in the withered leaves；
glanced up； dropped her head for a moment； then rose with a feeble
attempt at a smile。 Donal understood the smile： she would not have
him troubled because of what had taken place！
〃Mr。 Grant；〃 she said； coming towards him； 〃St。 Paul laid a curse
upon even an angel from heaven if he preached any other gospel than
his！ It is terrible！〃
〃It is terrible； and I say amen to it with all my heart；〃 returned
Donal。 〃But the gospel you have received is not the gospel of Paul；
it is one substituted for itand that by no angel from heaven； but
by men with hide…bound souls； who； in order to get them into their
own intellectual pockets； melted down the ingots of the kingdom； and
re…cast them in moulds of wretched legalism； borrowed of the Romans
who crucified their master。 Grand； childlike； heavenly things they
must explain； forsooth； after vulgar worldly notions of law and
right！ But they meant well； seeking to justify the ways of God to
men； therefore the curse of the apostle does not fall； I think； upon
them。 They sought a way out of their difficulties； and thought they
had found one； when in reality it was their faith in God himself
that alone got them out of the prison of their theories。 But gladly
would I see discomfited such as； receiving those inventions at the
hundredth hand； and moved by none of the fervour with which they
were first promulgated； lay； as the word and will of God； lumps of
iron and heaps of dust upon live； beating； longing hearts that cry
out after their God！〃
〃Oh； I do hope what you say is true！〃 panted Arctura。 〃I think I
shall die if I find it is not！〃
〃If you find what I tell you untrue； it will only be that it is not
grand and free and bounteous enough。 To think anything too good to
be true； is to deny Godto say the untrue may be better than the
truethat there might be a greater God than he。 Remember； Christ is
in the world still； and within our call。〃
〃I will think of what you tell me；〃 said Arctura； holding out her
hand。
〃If anything in particular troubles you；〃 said Donal； 〃I shall be
most glad to help you if I can； but it is better there should not be
much talking。 The thing lies between you and your Father。〃
With these words he left her。 Arctura followed slowly to the house；
and went straight to her room； her mind filling as she went with
slow…reviving strength and a great hope。 No doubt some of her relief
came from the departure of her incubus friend； but that must soon
have vanished in fresh sorrow； save for the hope and strength to
which this departure yielded the room。 She trusted that by the time
she saw her again she would be more firmly grounded concerning many
things； and able to set them forth aright。 She was not yet free of
the notion that you must be able to defend your convictions； she
scarce felt at liberty to say she believed a thing； so long as she
knew an argument against it which she could not show to be false。
Alas for our beliefs if they go no farther than the poor horizon of
our experience or our logic； or any possible wording of the beliefs
themselves！ Alas for ourselves if our beliefs are not what we shape
our lives； our actions； our aspirations； our hopes； our repentances
by！
Donal was glad indeed to hope that now at length an open door stood
before the poor girl。 He had been growing much interested in her； as
one on whom life lay heavy； one who seemed ripe for the kingdom of
heaven； yet in whose way stood one who would neither enter herself；
nor allow her to enter that would。 She was indeed fit for nothing
but the kingdom of heaven； so much was she already the child of him
whom； longing after him； she had not yet dared to call her father。
His regard for her was that of the gentle strong towards the weak he
would help； and now that she seemed fairly started on the path of
life； the path； namely； to the knowledge of him who is the life； his
care over her grew the more tender。 It is the part of the strong to
serve the weak； to minister that whereby they too may grow strong。
But he rather than otherwise avoided meeting her； and for a good
many days they did not so much as see each o