"Darwin? At least I throw it out."
"Darwin!" Her voice showed doubt--the natural demur of her young ignorance and idealism.
"Why not? What faith was to the thirteenth century knowledge is to us. St. Francis rekindled the heart of Europe, Darwin has transformed the main conception of the human mind."
In the dark she caught the cheerful patience of the small penetrating eyes as they turned upon her. And at the same time--strangely--she became aware of a sudden and painful impression; as though, through and behind the patience, she perceived an immense fatigue and discouragement--an ebbing power of life--in the man beside her.
"Hullo!" said Bobbie Forbes, turning back toward them, "I thought there was no one else here."
For suddenly they had become aware of a tapping sound on the marble floor, and from the shadows of the eastern end there emerged two figures: a woman in front, lame and walking with a stick, and a man behind. The cold reflected light which filled the western half of the church shone full on both faces. Bobbie Forbes and Diana exclaimed, simultaneously. Then Diana sped along the pavement.
"Who?" said Chide, rejoining the other two.
"Frobisher--and Miss Vincent," said Forbes, studying the new-comers.
"Miss Vincent!" Chide's voice showed his astonishment. "I thought she had been very ill."
"So she has," said Ferrier--"very ill. It is amazing to see her here."