‘Oh, yes, a great friend.’
‘He is not High Church nor Low Church?’
‘No, not exactly.’
‘What is he, then? What does he believe?’
‘Well, I can hardly say; he does not believe that anybody will be burnt in a brimstone lake for ever.’
‘That is what he does not believe,’ interposed Clara.
‘He believes that Socrates and the great Greeks and Romans who acted up to the light that was within them were not sent to hell. I think that is glorious, don’t you?’
‘Yes, but that also is something he does not believe. What is there in him which is positive? What has he distinctly won from the unknown?’
‘Ah, Miss Hopgood, you ought to hear him yourself; he is wonderful. I do admire him so much; I am sure you would like him.’
‘If you do not go home on Saturday,’ said Mrs Hopgood, ‘we shall be pleased if you will have dinner with us on Sunday; we generally go for a walk in the afternoon.’