"Were it so," he replied, "I should still be of the same mind as
Mr. De Forrest, and be glad that you are not an angel."
"Why so?"
"You might use your wings and leave us."
"Were I one, I would not leave you after that speech. But see how far I am from it. I weigh one hundred and fifteen pounds."
"I wish you were no farther off than that."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not our weight in avoirdupois that drags us down. But I am not going to preach any more to-day. Listen to the bells—how they echo from the hill-side!"
"Yes, Julian, listen to Bel," said Lottie to De Forrest, who was about to speak. "I'm talking to Mr. Hemstead. See those snow-crystals on my muff. How can you account for so many odd and beautiful shapes?"
"To me all the countless forms in nature," said Hemstead, "prove an infinite mind gratifying itself. They are expressions of creative thought."
"Nonsense! God doesn't bother with such little things as these."