"The whole world seems to me just so. People live, and die; and they might just as well not have lived, for all that their being in the world has done. And yet they have lived—and suffered."
More than she knew was told in the utterance of that last word. The minister was still not in a hurry to speak. When he did, his question came as a surprise.
"You believe the first chapter of Genesis, Miss Diana?"
"Certainly," she said, feeling with downcast heart, "O, now a sermon!"
"You believe that God made the earth, and made man to occupy it?"
"Yes—certainly."
"What do you think he made him for?"
"I know what the catechism says," Diana began slowly.
"No, no; my question has nothing to do with the catechism. Do you believe that the Creator's intention was that men should live purposeless lives, like what you describe?"
"I can't believe it."