‘Partly, no doubt.’ ‘For the gratification of a sensuous taste! the indulgence of a carnal delight! There is no spiritual worship in such places--none! It is turning the house of God into a concert-room; nothing less! Ah! this country was never properly reformed. It was done in a very half-hearted way. We want a new Reformation, that shall sweep away the remnants of idolatrous practices that yet defile what is nominally Protestant worship.’ The minister walked up and down the little room in his excitement, gesticulating as he went, to the manifest peril of a statuette on a bracket. Alec rose, and gravely removed the ornament to a place of safety. ‘No great harm if the heathen image had been knocked down,’ said Dr. Mackenzie grimly. ‘And let me tell you, young gentleman, that the best of Scotland’s sons have been those who were loyal to her reformed and Scriptural form of church government and public worship.’ ‘Perhaps so,’ said Alec, seeing that he was expected to say something. ‘I know a good many, however, who have not done so.’ ‘You know a good many young Scotchmen in London, perhaps?’ ‘A good many.’ ‘And are not those who are faithful to their early training Sabbath-keepers, church-goers--I don’t mean church-concert-goers--are they not respected and prosperous, and successful in their business?’ ‘They are,’ said Alec, ‘and not one of them now believes what he was brought up to believe.’ ‘What? What do you say? How can you decide on a point that must lie between each man and his Maker?’ ‘Because I have asked them,’ answered Alec. ‘Each chooses his own road. Some differ from the orthodox Presbyterian belief on one point, some on another, but none hold it in its entirety.’ ‘There are many non-essential points,’ began the minister; but he was not sorry that at this point the door opened, and Miss Lindsay, followed by Laura, entered the room. Presently luncheon was announced, and Semple, who was just then paying one of his frequent visits from Glasgow, joined the others on their way to the dining-room. The minister’s ‘blessing’ was of a kind more usual in Scotland forty years ago than it is now. He prayed for the master of the house, and for all his necessities, and for various spiritual and temporal blessings for each member of the household. Suddenly he seemed to remember the object with which he had started, and came to an abrupt conclusion with an adaptation of the usual formula.