He looked over at Hitt and smiled. “And to-day,” he continued, “we brothers are humbly meeting on the common ground of failure––failure to understand the Christ, and to meet the needs of our fellow-men with our elaborate systems of theology.”
“I heard another priest, years ago, make a similar confession,” said Hitt reflectively. “I would he were here to-night!”
“He is here, in spirit,” replied Father Waite; “for the same spirit of eager inquiry and humble desire for truth that animates us no doubt moved him. I have reason to think so,” he added, looking at Carmen. “For this girl’s spiritual development I believe to be very largely his work.”
Hitt glanced at Carmen inquiringly. He knew but little as yet of her past association with the priest Josè.
“You and I, Mr. Hitt, represented the greatest systems of so-called Christian belief,” pursued Father Waite. “Madam Beaubien, on the other hand, has represented the world that waits, as yet vainly, for redemption. We have not been able to afford it her. Yet––pardon my frankness in thus referring to you, Madam. It is only to benefit us all––that the means of redemption have been brought to her, we must now admit.”
All turned and looked at Carmen. She started to speak, but Father Waite raised a detaining hand. “Let me proceed,” he said. “Miss Wall represents the weariness of spirit and unrest abroad in the world to-day, the spirit that finds life not worth the while; and Mr. Haynerd voices the cynical disbelief, the agnosticism, of that great class who can not accept the childish tenets of our dogmatic systems of theology, yet who have nothing but the philosophy of stoicism or epicureanism to offer in substitute.”
Haynerd bowed and smiled. “You have me correctly classified,” he said. “I’m a Yankee, and from Missouri.”
“And now, having placed us,” said the Beaubien, “how will you classify Carmen?”
Father Waite looked at the girl reverently. “Hers is the leaven,” he replied gently, “which has leavened the whole lump.