"I am sure I know hardly anything, only that Lord Marchmont thinks very badly of him, and was quite sorry he had been asked to dinner. And he spoke of his having taken up Germanism, and oh! Caroline, for a man's faith to be unsettled is the worst of all, for then there is nothing to fall back upon." Caroline stood by Marian's fire, looking thoughtful for some moments. "Yes," she said, "you and Walter are in the same mind there, but it is not like what I was brought up to think. Miss Cameron used to teach us that the being in earnest in believing was the thing rather than the form of faith." "O, Caroline, that cannot be right. We have been commanded to hold one form of faith, and it must be wrong to set up another and hold it." "Yes, but if people are not clear that only one was given to every one, and that just as we say it is?" "Then it is very bad of them!" said Marian indignantly, "for I am sure the Bible is quite clear--one faith--the form of sound words--the faith once delivered to the saints." "I am quite clear about it," said Caroline. "O, of course," said Marian, looking at her with a sort of alarm at her speaking of the possibility as regarded herself of not being clear. "But if people are not clear, what are they to do?" "I don't know," said Marian, quickly; "only I hope I shall never have anything to do with such people; I can't judge for them; I had rather not think about them; it is of no use." "Of no use--what, not if you could do such a person good?" "Only in this way," said Marian, taking up her Prayer Book, and turning to the Collect for Good Friday. "Yes, but trying to convince?" "I should be afraid." "Afraid! Marian, I am sure nothing could hurt your faith." "I would not try," said Marian, shaking her head sadly. "But at that rate no one ever would be converted?" "You forget that there are clergymen." "Yes, but other people have done good." "O yes, but not women by arguing. O no, no, Caroline, we never ought to put our weakness forward, as if it could guard the truth. You know the wrong side may find stronger arguments than we are able to do--mind I don't say than can be found--of course truth is the strongest of all, but we may be overpowered, though the truth is not. We women should not stand out to argue for the truth any more than we should stand out to fight as champions in the right cause." "And is this the reason you never would argue?" "I don't know--I mean no, it was only because I had nothing to say; I knew when a thing was right, but could not tell why, and the more you asked, the more I did not know." "And do you know now?" "Sometimes," said Marian, "not often, but Mr. Wortley taught me some things, and one grows up to others. But I could never explain even when I know." "For instance--" said Caroline, laughing. "O that came, I don't know how. Have I said so much?" "A great deal that is very nice. Good night, Marian." CHAPTER XII.