"We'll drop that topic, please, Hazlet," said Julian, "as we're not likely to agree upon it." "Have you ever read one word that Mr Vere ever wrote?" asked Kennedy. "Well, yes; at least no, not exactly: but still one may judge, you know; besides, I've seen extracts of his works." "Extracts!" answered Kennedy scornfully; "extracts which often attribute to him the very sentiments which he is opposing. But it isn't worth arguing with one of your school, who have the dishonesty to condemn writers whom you are incapable of understanding, on the faith of extracts which they haven't even read." The wrathful purpling of Hazlet's sallow countenance portended an explosion of orthodox spleen, but Julian gently interposed in time to save the devoted Kennedy from a few unmeasured anathemas. "Hush!" he said, "none of the odium theologicum, please, lest the mighty shade of Aeschylus smile at you in scorn. Do drop the subject, Hazlet." "Very well, if you like, Home; but I must deliver my conscience, you know. But really, Julian, you are not very Christian in your other pictures." This was too much even for Julian's politeness, and he joined in the shout of laughter with which Kennedy greeted this appeal. "Fools make a mock at sin," said Hazlet austerely. "I trust that you will both be brought to a better state of mind. Good morning!" Kennedy flung himself into an armchair, and after finishing his laugh, exclaimed, "My dear Home, where did you pick up that intolerable hypocrite?" "Hush, Kennedy, hush! Don't call him a hypocrite. His mode of religion may be very offensive to us, and yet it may be sincere." "Faugh! the idea of asking you, `How's your soul?' It reminds me of a friend of mine who was suddenly asked by a minister in a train `if he didn't feel an aching void?' `An aching void? Where?' said Jones, in a tone of alarm, for he was an unimaginative person. `Within, sir, within!' said the stranger. Jones felt anxiously to find whether one of his ribs was accidentally protruding, but finding them all safe, set down the minister for a lunatic, and moved to the further end of the carriage." Julian smiled; he was more accustomed to this kind of phraseology than his friend, and knew that outrageous as it was to good taste under the circumstances, it yet might spring from a sincere and honourable motive, or at best must be regarded as the natural result of innate vulgarity and mistaken training.