"Who told you she was not, father?" "Who told me? Why, Robert, it is notorious. Who told me? Is she not known to belong to the world? does she ever appear before the Lord?" "Do you think then, father, that because she does not come to our chapel she cannot be saved?" "No, you know I do not. The Lord has His followers doubtless in other communions besides our own, but the Shiptons are not His." "You mean, I suppose, that they do not believe exactly what we believe, and that they go to church?" "No, no; I mean that she has not found Him, and that she is of the world--of the world! O Robert, Robert! think what you are doing--that you will mate yourself with one who is not elect, that you may have children who will he the children of wrath. You don't know what I have gone through for you. I have wrestled and prayed before I could bring myself to do my duty and talk with you, and even now I cannot speak. What is it which chokes me? O Robert, Robert!" But Robert, usually docile and tender, was hard and obdurate. The image of Susan rose before his eyes with her head on his shoulder, and he thought to himself that it was necessary at once to make matters quite plain and stop all further trespass on his prerogative. So it is, and so it ever has been. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and cleave to his wife. There comes a time when the father and mother find that they must withdraw; but it is the order of the world, and has to be accepted, like sickness or death. "Father," said Robert, "I am not a boy, and you must allow me in these matters to judge for myself." As he spoke his spirit rose; the image of the head on his shoulder, defenceless against attack save for him, became clearer and clearer, and words escaped him which he never afterwards forgot, nor did his father forget. "And it is a shame--I say it is a shame to speak against her. You know nothing about her. Worldly! her children children of wrath, just because she is not of your way of thinking, and isn't--and isn't a humbug, as some of them are. From anybody else I wouldn't stand it," and Robert turned sharply away and went home.