"Really?" he questioned.
"Yes," said Hubert, thus thrust unwillingly into the discussion, "I am no worshiper at all."
"And may I ask why?" queried Mr. Bond.
"Your book says that whoever comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who seek Him. I am not sure of either proposition, and so I do not pretend to come to Him."
The frank eyes looked through the eyeglasses pleasantly. "Are you sure of the contrary?" he asked.
"No," said Hubert honestly.
"Admitting the supposition that He is, and is a rewarder of them that seek Him, does it cover the ground of responsibility to ignore Him because you are not sure?"
"Perhaps not," said Hubert. "But," he added doggedly, "if He is, and wishes to be known and worshiped, He ought to be demonstrable."
Mrs. Gray looked a little frightened. She never liked to hear Hubert talk about those things, and it was so mortifying to have him take such a stand against the church and everything everybody—at least most respectable people—believed. She was sure he was saying something dreadful now. Mr. Gray looked apprehensive, too. Winifred's self-revelation of the morning made her feel like casting no stones at her brother.
Mr. Bond looked at Hubert mildly.