"There seemed a general disposition to view the subject from all points," remarked Mr. Prymm. "Not much regard paid to evidence," said young Lawyer Scott, "but still an evident willingness to open the case fairly." "There was not a proper interest displayed in the future location of the soul," complained Mr. Jodderel; "still the members acted like good listeners." "There was a little too much talking back," said Mr. Radley; "men should be more careful about treading on each other's corns. But there was a real, liberal spirit shown throughout, and that's what religious societies need." "Men shouldn't _have_ corns, if they don't want them trodden on," said Captain Maile. "I won't complain, though--I never saw so little narrowness in so large a religious gathering." "I take great delight in recalling the conference we have had," said Dr. Fahrenglohz. "I supposed, when I heard of this association, that it would not bear the test of differences of opinions, but I am grateful for the respect shown to me, and pleased at the courtesy displayed toward others." Squire Woodhouse waited until Mr. Alleman disappeared, and then burst into a small group exclaiming: "Now, I like Alleman first rate--all of my children go to his academy--but I _do_ wonder whether he could run a farm with those notions of his? I'm glad the class listened respectfully, though--it showed that nobody was afraid that a little liberality would hurt any one." CHAPTER III. FREE SPEECH. The members of the Scripture Club did not put off their holy interest with their Sunday garments, as people of the world do with most things religious. When the little steamboat _Oakleaf_ started on her Monday morning trip for the city, the members of the Scripture Club might be identified by their neglect of the morning papers and their tendency to gather in small knots and engage in earnest conversation. In a corner behind the paddle-box, securely screened from wind and sun, sat Mr. Jodderel and Mr. Prymm, the latter adoring with much solemn verbosity the sacred word, and the former piling text upon text to demonstrate the final removal of all the righteous to a new state of material existence in a better ordered planet. In the one rocking-chair of the cabin sat insurance President Lottson, praising to Mr. Hopper, who leaned obsequiously upon the back of the chair and occasionally hopped vivaciously around it, the self-disregard of the disciples, and the evident inability of anyone within sight to follow their example. The prudent Waggett was interviewing Dr. Fahrenglotz, who was going to attend the meeting of a sort of Theosophic Society, composed almost entirely of Germans, and was endeavoring to learn what points there might be in the Doctor's belief which would make a man wiser unto salvation, while Captain Maile stood by, a critical listener, and distributed pitying glances between the two. Well forward, but to the