“Not even to minister to a needy world?”
“Woman’s life is here, generally, all service, all ministry; her return to earth after death would be a work of supererogation. God sends back the male spirits to help restore the world their sex did most to ruin.”
Then both the debaters laughed out as heartily as they dared, but there was in the tones of the knight’s laughter a part-confession of defeat. After a time Sir Charleroy spoke again: “Thou art calm now, after this diversion, Ichabod; proceed with thy story of danger.”
“Well, Nourahmal——”
“Oh, yes, begin again with Nourahmal. Samson was a pretty good man for a giant, but he had a betraying Delilah!”
“True enough; but he had also a noble mother. Remember the better, rather than the worse.”
“I remember her peers, Mary and my mother.”
“So, then, when sweepingly condemning all the sex, please except the mothers, at least of those who may be thy hearers.”
“Good Jew, I’ll not wound thee!”