“That is what I mean, if by a God you mean a being who cares about us, and loves justice--that is, fair play--one whom therefore we wrong to the very heart when we do a thing that is not just.” “I would gladly believe in such a being, if things were so that I could. As they are, I confess it seems to me the best thing to doubt it. I do doubt it very much. How can I help doubting it, when I see so much suffering, oppression, and cruelty in the world? If there were such a being as you say, would he permit the horrible things we hear of on every hand?” “I used to find that a difficulty. Indeed it troubled me sorely until I came to understand things better. I remember Mr Graham saying once something like this--I did not understand it for months after: ‘Every kind-hearted person who thinks a great deal of being comfortable, and takes prosperity to consist in being well-off, must be tempted to doubt the existence of a God.--And perhaps it is well they should be so tempted,’ he added.” “Why did he add that?” “I think because such are in danger of believing in an evil God. And if men believed in an evil God, and had not the courage to defy him, they must sink to the very depths of savagery. At least that is what I ventured to suppose he meant.” Clementina opened her eyes wide, but said nothing. Religious people, she found, could think as boldly as she. “I remember all about it so well!” Malcolm added, thoughtfully. “We had been talking about the Prometheus of Æschylus--how he would not give in to Jupiter.”