'That I refuse to do, Miss Willoughby.'
'Then I shall not believe in you, for I expect you can't do it. And it is a selfish, unkind spirit to refuse to enlighten an inquirer. My old chapel friend was far kinder. You good people say conversion is a blessing; yet, when I want to know how to get it, you refuse to assist me.'
'If you want to know the way, the Bible will show you,' I said in a low voice.
'The Bible! I heard a clergyman say once that the Bible did not teach conversion!'
'But our Lord did. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."'
It was Mr. Stanton who spoke, and every one looked up astonished.
'Do you know all about these things, Mr. Stanton?' questioned Miss Willoughby, as she looked at him curiously.
'I am glad to say I do,' he replied, 'and shall be pleased at any time to have a quiet talk with you about them.'
She shrugged her shoulders with a comic look of dismay at Kenneth. 'He looks as if he could be aggressive—it's a revelation to me; I cannot get over it! Let us have some music to refresh us after such topics!'
She moved across to the piano, and left me in peace for the remainder of the evening.