"Psha!" said Isabel.
"And I here, too," he went on, "who should have been under the water rather than have come home a Catholic. And the gift of faith," he said seriously, "which God has bestowed upon me, and which my friends would wish me to throw away or trample under foot, and the guardianship of saints and angels, which people mock at."
"Baby can hardly be called a Christmas present," said Bell, "since she is four weeks old, and Christmas is not until next Thursday."
"Not precisely."
"Nor your gift of faith, as you call it, since you became a Catholic, you say, before leaving Valparaiso."
"Not as we usually speak; but every blessing comes to us really because of the Incarnation, and so any blessing which we have particularly to be thankful for may be gratefully regarded as a Christmas gift."
"Well, it must be owned," said Isabel, "that you bring your ideas, like the wise woman in the Proverbs, from afar."
George went on quietly without smiling. "There will be more Christmas gifts next Thursday."
"I dare say," said Bell, though her face demanded an explanation.
"Father and mother will have another son, and we all shall have another brother, and you will have one who in some sort will stand to you in the place of God."