"If I thought so, I would leave it at once."
"If you had a wife and five children you would put their comfort before your own feelings. That stands to reason. All this talk about the higher criticism is like the sickly talk of the higher civilization; it is anemia in some form or other. Macrae, we have our duty to the Church. We are pledged and sworn to that. It is as much the work given us to do as plowing and sowing are the farmer's work."
"But the Truth—the Truth, Doctor!"
"What is Truth, Macrae? Who knows? The Truth of yesterday is the error of to-day."
"Then, it never was Truth, for Truth is unaffected by time, and remains a witness of the past, the present, and the future."
Then the visiting cleric struck the table heavily with his closed hand and, with a fierce intensity, whispered,
"O Man! Man! what if all this religion should be a dream!"
And Dr. Macrae answered, "Then, where is the Reality?"
Both men were silent, but in the eyes of both there was that look which is only seen in the eyes of men who are defrauding their own souls.
In a few moments there was the tinkle of a small silver bell, and Dr. Macrae said, "Tea is ready," and they rose together. Passing the parlor they heard Marion trying a new song, and they loitered a moment or two and listened, as very slowly and softly she asked: