And yet--as they moved slowly along through the garden the thought took sudden shape in his mind--it would be only justice for him to get also the doctor's opinion of Celia. Even while they offended and repelled him, he could not close his eyes to the fact that the doctor's experiments and occupations were those of a patient and exact man of science--a philosopher. And what he had said about women--there was certainly a great deal of acumen and shrewd observation in that. If he would only say what he really thought about Celia, and about her relations with the priest! Yes, Theron recognized now there was nothing else that he so much needed light upon as those puzzling ties between Celia and Father Forbes. He paused, with a simulated curiosity, about one of the flower-beds. “Speaking of women and religion”--he began, in as casual a tone as he could command--“I notice curiously enough in my own case, that as I develop in what you may call the--the other direction, my wife, who formerly was not especially devote, is being strongly attracted by the most unthinking and hysterical side of--of our church system.” The doctor looked at him, nodded, and stooped to nip some buds from a stalk in the bed. “And another case,” Theron went on--“of course it was all so new and strange to me--but the position which Miss Madden seems to occupy about the Catholic Church here--I suppose you had her in mind when you spoke.” Ledsmar stood up. “My mind has better things to busy itself with than mad asses of that description,” he replied. “She is not worth talking about--a mere bundle of egotism, ignorance, and red-headed lewdness. If she were even a type, she might be worth considering; but she is simply an abnormal sport, with a little brain addled by notions that she is like Hypatia, and a large impudence rendered intolerable by the fact that she has money. Her father is a decent man. He ought to have her whipped.” Mr. Ware drew himself erect, as he listened to these outrageous words. It would be unmanly, he felt, to allow such comments upon an absent friend to pass unrebuked. Yet there was the courtesy due to a host to be considered. His mind, fluttering between these two extremes, alighted abruptly upon a compromise. He would speak so as to show his disapproval, yet not so as to prevent his finding out what he wanted to know. The desire to hear Ledsmar talk about Celia and the priest seemed now to have possessed him for a long time, to have dictated his unpremeditated visit out here, to have been growing in intensity all the while he pretended to be interested in orchids and bees and the drugged Chinaman. It tugged passionately at his self-control as he spoke. “I cannot in the least assent to your characterization of the lady,” he began with rhetorical dignity.