"Ian, I have no patience with you. If there is anything plain and clear in the religious teachings of the Bible, it is that religion proves itself. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, not intellectually. If a man has had a good dinner, he knows it; there is no need to argue about the matter. If a soul thirsts after righteousness and drinks of the Waters of Life, it knows it, and is happy and satisfied; it does not want evidences that it is so." "You are right, Jessy, but what is the matter with you to-night? You are very queer--I may say 'cross.'" "I am neither queer nor cross. This afternoon, for a few moments, I lost my bodily senses, and found _myself_--and I saw a black cloud coming straight to our house--coming as if it knew just where to go--as if it had been sent. And it entered the house, and I came to myself in a dream and sweat of terror; and I am feared for my children, for they are heart of my heart. And your selfish way with them both is enough to call some tragedy, a deal worse than a marriage that does not suit you, or the taking of his own way by a good, brave lad who is sure not to take a wrong way, though it may not be the one you prefer." "Marion has no knowledge of the world, and it is my duty to stand between her and the world." "Marion loves Richard Cramer, and if she is willing to thole his temper and all the rest of his shortcomings, it is likely her appointed way toward perfection--it seems to be God's commonest way of training women. You do not require to bear with Cramer in any way. He will not trouble you, for there is no doubt he thinks you as selfish and disagreeable as you think him." "I dislike Lord Cramer for his immoralities." "God puts up with what you call his 'immoralities,' and I think you need not be so strict to mark iniquity--if there is any. In my opinion, Cramer is as good as the rest of men--fond of women's company, of course, and, like Donald, daft about music and fine singing, but what good man is not?" "As for Donald, I only ask him to walk in my own footsteps." "They are over-narrow for him." "Nevertheless, he shall tread in them or make his own way. I have money to send him to St. Andrews and give him every advantage. He can go there next month--or he can go to the ends of the earth." "Then he will go to the ends of the earth. But take heed to my words, Ian Macrae, you will not escape the sorrow of it. However you may try to comfort yourself, you will not be able to forget the loving, handsome lad who stands at your side to-day like a vision of your own youth." "I had a very happy afternoon, and you have completely spoiled it, Jessy." "You can have a happy afternoon to-morrow, and every day, if you wish it, but if you ruin your children's lives you can never, never undo that wrong. Have some pity on yourself, if you have none on them."