"The Jews," said Tom quietly. "Contrast the life of the average Jew with that of the average Christian. Will you find the difference always in favour of the Christian?" "Surely, yes," said Mr. Jones. "An unbeliever can never have the impregnable assurance that we find in the crucified Christ." "Not in the loving-kindness of the Father," said Tom. "You exalt the Son at the expense of the Father?" "Dear me, dear me," said Mr. Jones. "This is worse than I thought. I am afraid you are all astray, my young friend. I beseech you consider your ways, reflect on the danger you are in, the perils that compass you round about. Above all pray without ceasing, pray for light and guidance." "I do pray, Mr. Jones. I pray every day; I pray at my bed-side, I pray at my work, in my daily walks." "Ah! But prayer without faith is but a beating of the air. You must have an intercessor with your offended God, a sacrifice for His outraged laws." "Mr. Jones, I respect your zeal and think you mean well. I do sacrifice. I offer myself as a living sacrifice. It is all I have to offer. When the great account is made up my life must plead for me. If that will not avail, I have little confidence in any other plea. But I did not seek this interview, Mr. Jones nor choose this topic, or is this, main street of Holmfirth, the best place for such discussion as we have drafted into. My main business to-day is to determine how much a bale I can afford to give for the best Spanish wool that is the part of my Master's business that I am intent on just now. If I remember that it _is_ my Master's business, I shan't be so far wrong, shall I? And I'm going to try to make a bargain with a Jew wool-stapler, and I'm no more afraid of being overreached than if he were a Christian. But come up to Co-op Mill, and have a fling at my class you'll be made heartily welcome. Fix your own time, but come." "God forbid," said Mr. Jones, as Tom darted into the railway station, just in time to catch the Huddersfield train.