"Dear child, I have little doubt that Alick knew it would come to this."

Rachel paused. "What, you and he think a woman's doubts so vague and

shallow as to be always mastered by a husband's influence?"

Mr. Clare was embarrassed. If he had thought so he had not expected her

to make the inference. He asked her if she could venture to look back on

her dream so as to mention what had chiefly distressed her. He could not

see her frowning effort at recollection, but after a pause, she said,

"Things will seem to you like trifles, indeed, individual criticisms

appear so to me; but the difficulty to my mind is that I don't see these

objections fairly grappled with. There is either denunciation or weak

argument; but I can better recollect the impression on my own mind than

what made it."

"Yes, I know that feeling; but are you sure you have seen all the

arguments?"

"I cannot tell--perhaps not. Whenever I get a book with anything in it,

somebody says it is not sound."

"And you therefore conclude that a sound book can have nothing in it?"

he asked, smiling.

"Well, most of the new 'sound' books that I have met are just what my

mother and sister like--either dull, or sentimental and trashy."

"Perhaps those that get into popular circulation do deserve some of your

terms for them. Illogical replies break down and carry off some who have

pinned their faith to them; but are you sure that though you have read

much, you have read deep?"

"I have read more deeply than any one I know--women, I mean--or than

any man ever showed me he had read. Indeed, I am trying not to say it

in conceit, but Ermine Williams does not read argumentative books, and

gentlemen almost always make as if they knew nothing about them."

"I think you may be of great use to me, my dear, if you will help me.

The bishop has desired me to preach the next visitation sermon, and he

wishes it to be on some of these subjects. Now, if you will help me with

the book work, it will be very kind in you, and might serve to clear

your mind about some of the details, though you must be prepared for

some questions being unanswered."

"Best so," replied Rachel, "I don't like small answers to great

questions."

"Nor I. Only let us take care not to get absorbed in admiring the

boldness that picks out stones to be stumbled over."

"Do you object to my having read, and thought, and tried?"

"Certainly not. Those who have the capability should, if they feel

disturbed, work out the argument. Nothing is gained while it is felt

that both sides have not been heard. I do not myself believe that a

humble, patient, earnest spirit can go far wrong, though it may for a

time be tried, and people often cry out at the first stumbling block,

and then feel committed to the exclamations they have made."




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