"And then, people said it was very immoral. Far from that; it has a very high ethical standard indeed--a very moral aim. One of its chief objects is to establish a universal brotherhood amongst men of all nations and sects." "A what?" asked Atherley. "A universal brotherhood." "My dear Mrs. Molyneux, you don't mean to seriously offer that as a novelty. I never heard anything so hackneyed in my life. Why, it has been preached _ad nauseam_ for centuries!" "By the Christian Church, I suppose you mean. And pray how have they practised their preaching?" "Oh, but excuse me; that is not the question. If your religion is as brand-new as you gave me to understand, there has been no time for practice. It must be all theory, and I hoped I was going to hear something original." "Oh really, Sir George, you are quite too naughty. How can I explain things if you are so flippant and impatient? In one sense, it is a very old religion; it is the truth which is in all religions, and some of its interesting doctrines were taught ages before Christianity was ever heard of, and proved, too, by miracles far far more wonderful than any in the New Testament. However, it is no good talking to you about that; what I really wanted you to understand is how infinitely superior it is to all other religions in its theological teaching. You know, Sir George, you are always finding fault with all the Christian Churches--and even with the Mahommedans too, for that matter--because they are so anthropomorphic, because they imply that God is a personal being. Very well, then, you cannot say that about this religion, because--this is what is so remarkable and elevated about it--it has nothing to do with God at all." "Nothing to do with what did you say?" asked Lady Atherley, diverted by this last remark from a long row of loops upon an ivory needle which she appeared to be counting. "Nothing to do with God." "Do you know, Lucinda," said Lady Atherley, "if you would not mind, I fancy the coffee is just coming in, and perhaps it would be as well just to wait for a little, you know--just till the servants are out of the room? They might perhaps think it a little odd." "Yes," said Atherley, "and even unorthodox." Mrs. Molyneux submitted to this interruption with the greatest sweetness and composure, and dilated on the beauty of the new chair-covers till Castleman and the footman had retired, when, with a coffee-cup instead of a fan in her exquisite hand, she took up the thread of her exposition. "As I was saying, the distinction of this religion is that it has nothing to do with God. Of course it has other great advantages, which I will explain later, like its cultivation of a sixth sense, for instance--" "Do you mean common sense?" "Jane, what am I to do with Sir George? He is really incorrigible. How can I possibly explain things if you will not be serious?"