The Doctor bows stiffly; he has lost the familiarity which at their last interview had lingered from their boyish days at college.
"I suppose that under your teaching," continues Maverick, "she is so fixed in the New England faith of our fathers, that she might be trusted now even to my bad guidance."
"I have tried to do my duty, Maverick. I could have wished to see more of self-abasement in her, and a clearer acceptance of the doctrine we are called upon to teach."
"But she has been constant in the performance of all the duties you have enjoined, hasn't she, Doctor?"
"Entirely so,—entirely; but, my friend, our poor worldly efforts at duty do not always call down the gift of Grace."
"By Jove, Doctor, but that seems hard doctrine."
"Hard to carnal minds, Maverick; but the evidences are abundant that justification"——
"Nay, nay," said Maverick, interrupting him; "you know I'm not strong in theology; I don't want to be put hors du combat by you; I know I should be. But about that little affair of the rosary,—no harm came of it, I hope?"
"None, I believe," said the Doctor, "but I must not conceal from you, Maverick, that a late teacher of hers, to whom unfortunately she seems very much attached, is strongly wedded to the iniquities of the Romish Church."
"That would seem a very awkward risk to take, Doctor," said Maverick, with more of seriousness than he had yet shown.