With startling intuition of truth she spoke; but Daniel did not appreciate her discernment. "Fewer that listen to his talk, the better," he said. "Ban't likely Mr. Woodrow will be happy so long as he sucks poison out of all sorts of godless books." "Poison is as poison does," she answered. "Everybody says he's a very good sort of man. The good man can't be godless." "Because his Maker's stronger than his opinions and ban't sleeping, though Woodrow's conscience may be. In time of trouble I wouldn't give a rush for his way. There's nought to help then but Heaven; and so he'll find it. Not that I judge--only I'm sorry for it." "He wants a woman after him," repeated Sarah Jane decisively. Daniel laughed at her. "You think, because you and me are married, that nobody can be happy otherwise." "Men and women must come to it for sartain, if they'm to be complete, and shine afore their fellow-creatures. A bachelor's an unfinished thing; and so's a maiden--I don't care who she is. And she knows it at the bottom of her heart, for all she pretends different." "That's not Christianity," Daniel answered; "and you oughtn't to say it, or think it. You speak in the first flush of being married; and I feel just the same and scorn a single man; but 'tis silly nonsense, and we'm both wrong. The saints and martyrs was mostly single, and the holiest Christians that ever lived haven't found no use for women as a rule. Christ's Self wasn't married for that matter." She considered this view, then shook her head unconvinced. "He went to marriages and was kind to the women. He might have found the right maiden Himself, and won joy of her after He'd set the world right, if they hadn't killed Him." Daniel stared. "Don't say things like that, Sarah Jane! You don't mean it for profane speaking; but 'tis very near it, and makes me feel awful scared." "What have I said now, dear heart? I never know what you think 'bout things. You change so. If 'tis holier and better to bide single--but there--what foolishness! Jesus Christ set store by little children anyway; and He knowed you can't have 'em without getting 'em." Brendon rose up from the table and kissed her neck. "You'm a darling creature," he said, "and to look at you be to make single life but a frosty thing in a man's eyes, no doubt. Certainly 'twould be false for me to say a word against marriage; only it ban't for all; and the Christian religion shows that there are many can do more useful work out of it than in it." "Poor things!" she said in her pride. "Let 'em do what they can, then. But I'd be sorry to think that a churchyard stone, getting crookeder every year, was all that was left to remember me by when I went." "That's your narrowness, Sarah. There's other contrivances beside babbies that a man or a woman can bring into the world. Goodness and proper actions, and setting an example, and such like."