"Oh, come, Dr. Harden, you surely take a larger view. Do you think the short existence we have here is all the chance of activity we ever have? That I have a glimpse of engineering, and you have a short phase of doctoring on this planet, and that then we have finished all experience?"
"Certainly. It would not be possible to take any other view—horrible."
"But you believe in some theory of evolution—of slow upward progress?"
"Yes, of course. That is proved beyond all doubt."
"And yet you think it applies only to the body—to the instrument—and not to the immaterial side of us?"
I stared at him in astonishment.
"I do not think there is any immaterial side, Mr. Thornduck."
He smiled.
"A very unsatisfying view, surely?" he remarked.
"Unsatisfying, perhaps, but sound science," I retorted.