"Merely to let you know that I am a Christian. It is time."
"You were always a Christian!"
"In name. Now it is reality."
"You don't mean that you—you!—have become one of those fanatics?"
"What fanatics?"
"Those people who give up everything for religion, and are insane upon the subject."
"You could not have described it better, than in the first half of your speech. I have given up everything for religion. That is, I have given myself and all I have to Christ and his service; and whatever I do henceforth, I do only in that character and in that interest. But as to sanity,"—he smiled again,—"I think I was never sane until now."
Mrs. Burrage had risen for the second time, and her brother was now standing opposite to her; and if she had been proud of him a little while before, it was Lois's turn now. The calm, clear frankness and nobleness of his face and bearing made her heart fairly swell with its gladness and admiration; but it filled the other woman's heart with a different feeling.
"And this is you, Philip Dillwyn!" she said bitterly. "And I know you; what you have said you will stand to. Such a man as you! lost to the world!"
"Why lost to the world, Mrs. Burrage?" said Lois gently. She had risen too. The other lady faced her.