"Oh, no," Fenton broke in, "he doesn't go half far enough for a Pagan. The Pagan position is that matrimony is a matter of temperament and convenience; it is essentially Philistine to consider that a marriage ceremony imposes eternal obligations."
"There, Mr. Fenton," Mrs. Hubbard rejoined, "I haven't heard you say anything so heathenish for half a dozen years. I hoped your wife had reformed you."
"Or that he had come to years of discretion," suggested Mr. Hubbard, with his charming smile.
"Oh, but I find years of indiscretion so much more interesting," Fenton retorted.
A moment later Helen said something about the truth, and Rangely retorted,—
"Truth is generally what one wishes to believe."
"Except in Puritanism," broke in Arthur, "there it was whatever one didn't wish to believe."
"Don't you think," questioned Mr. Hubbard, "that you are always a little hard on the Puritans? You must admire their conviction and their bravery."
"Oh, yes," was Fenton's reply; "there is something superb in the earnestness of the Puritans, and their absorption in one idea; but that idea has left its birthmark of gloom on all their descendants, and one cannot forget that Puritanism was the soil from which sprang the unbelief of today."
"Bless us!" cried Rangely, "is Saul also among the prophets? Are you also condemning unbelief?"