"Of course he embraces Christianity in the end. The high-priest or bishop elevates a crucifix. I've been trying to think of a good name for him. Ingomar or Anthrax...." "That won't do. It's what the sheep die of. How would Zero do?" "Something between Zeno and Nero. Very good name, only the thermometer's been beforehand with us...." And so the conversation ran on for a little, throwing an interesting light on the human drama in its connection with Gibbon. But it was a conversation that murmured continually: "You know you did not allow me to go my own way because you thought I was going to be disagreeable. Finish me piecemeal as I arise, or take the consequence--misgiving on either part about what the other did or didn't think." Judith, who, after all, was the one responsible for the discontinuity, gave in to these murmurs first, and harked back. "I know you think, Challis, that I am keeping the _madre_ and papa in the dark about what I mean to do. But I'm not, because Sibyl knows, and _they_ can know perfectly well if they like; it's only that they don't choose to know. Besides, what on earth _is_ the use of making scenes, when I've made up my mind? I'll confess when the time comes." The levity or laxity of Challis's voice is gone from it in his reply, scarcely a sequel to the words just spoken: "When I said that about your little maid, I had no thought that it could possibly apply in your case. The child, remember, is under the legal control of parents. How old is she?--sixteen?..." "Yes, perhaps--not more, certainly. You mean that I'm...." "Over twenty-one. I don't say you would assert a legal independence against the wishes of your family. But it separates the two cases. I wouldn't have any hand in getting a very young girl on the stage in any case. And I think I should avail myself of the existing legal ... well!--call it pretext, if you will ... to excuse myself from doing so." "That's just like you, Challis! You really are a disciple of Mr. Brownrigg's Groschenbauer--what's his name? You deride every existing usage, merely because it exists, and then you make use of it for your own purposes! You're just the same about the parsons, and all religion! You tolerate it, or pose as tolerating it, because you dislike wickedness on the whole, and can't see your way to a substitute--not even to a Metaphysical Check." Challis's laugh left his face twinkling with paradoxical intention. "I believe I am the only known example," said he deliberately, "of a person apparently of sound mind who has never once succeeded in justifying a single position he has taken up...." "Don't talk like Felixthorpe! At any rate, you can justify the position you have taken up that I'm more than twenty-one." "Because you told me!" "Yes--the day after my birthday. I was twenty-six the day you came to Royd. I remember telling you the day we went to the Rectory. Six months ago! Oh dear!--how the time does run away!"