"The one party go back into darkness," said No. 3; "the Pope was coming forward into light."
"One ought to interpret everything for the best in a real Papist," said Freeborn, "and everything for the worst in a Puseyite. That is both charity and common sense."
"This was not all," continued No. 2; "he called together the Cardinals, protested that he earnestly desired God's glory, said that inward religion was all in all, and forms were nothing without a contrite heart, and that he trusted soon to be in Paradise—which, you know, was a denial of the doctrine of Purgatory."
"A brand from the burning, I do hope," said No. 3.
"It has frequently been observed," said No. 4, "nay it has struck me myself, that the way to convert Romanists is first to convert the Pope."
"It is a sure way, at least," said Charles timidly, afraid he was saying too much; but his irony was not discovered.
"Man cannot do it," said Freeborn; "it's the power of faith. Faith can be vouchsafed even to the greatest sinners. You see now, perhaps," he said, turning to Charles, "better than you did, what I meant by faith the other day. This poor old man could have no merit; he had passed a long life in opposing the Cross. Do your difficulties continue?"
Charles had thought over their former conversation very carefully several times, and he answered, "Why, I don't think they do to the same extent."
Freeborn looked pleased.
"I mean," he said, "that the idea hangs together better than I thought it did at first."