"What theories?"
"He kindly continued your conversation after you went to hunt for a shawl."
"Damn him!"
He damned him to his face the next morning.
"What!" said poor Scherer, with open mouth, "not a subject for conversation?"
"Certainly not; the world's not ready for it."
"No, no," said Scherer, rapidly reconstructing; "perhaps not. If the theory were widely accepted it would bring about many avoidable disasters."
"How so?" demanded Ethan, ready in a minute to defend his faith against all comers.
"It might," said Scherer—"might sap the energy and courage of people who, but for its teaching, would go on bravely to the end."
"It is itself 'the brave end.'"