‘But only hear what he says,’ cried Ada. ‘He says the rainbow was not put there to show there is never to be another flood!’
‘Now, Lily,’ said Maurice, ‘I do not think there is much use in talking to you, but I wish you to understand that all I said was, that the rainbow, or iris, is a natural phenomenon occasioned by the refraction of the solar—’
‘You will certainly bewilder yourself into something dreadful with that horrid science,’ said Lily. ‘What is the matter with Phyl?’
‘Only crying because of what I said,’ answered Maurice. ‘So childish, and you are just as bad.’
‘But do you mean to say,’ exclaimed Lily, ‘that you set this human theory above the authority of the Bible?’
‘It is common sense,’ said Maurice; ‘I could make a rainbow any day.’
Whereupon Phyllis cried the more, and Lily looked infinitely shocked. ‘This is philosophy and vain deceit,’ said she; ‘the very thing that tends to infidelity.’
‘I can’t help it—it is universally allowed,’ said the boy doggedly.
It was fortunate that the next person who entered the room was Claude, and all at once he was appealed to by the four disputants, Lily the loudest and most vehement. ‘Claude, listen to him, and tell him to throw away these hateful new lights, which lead to everything that is shocking!’
‘Listen to him, with three ladies talking at once?’ said Claude. ‘No, not Phyl—her tears only are eloquent; but it is a mighty war about the token of peace and love, Lily.’