hovering over an ocean of harmony.  But although the picture of his future life rose at his invocation it did not move him as heretofore, nor did the scenes he evoked of conjugal grossness and platitude shock him to the extent he had expected.  The moral rebellion he succeeded in exciting was tepid, heartless, and ineffective, and he was not moved by hate or fear until he remembered that God in His infinite goodness had placed him for ever out of the temptation which he so earnestly sought to escape from.  Kitty was a Protestant.  In a pang of despair, windows and organ collapsed like cardboard; incense and arches vanished, and then rose again with the light of a more gracious vision upon them.  For if the dignity and desire of mere self-salvation had departed, all the lighter colours and livelier joys of the conversion of others filled the sky of faith with morning tones and harmonies.  And then?...  Salvation before all things, he answered in his enthusiasm;—­something of the missionary spirit of old time was upon him, and forgetful of his aisles, his arches, his Latin authors, he went down stairs and asked Kitty to play a game of billiards.

“We play billiards here on Sunday, but you would think it wrong to do so.”

“But to-day is not Sunday.”

“No, I was only speaking in a general way.  Yet I often wonder how you can feel satisfied with the protection your Church affords you against the miseries and trials of the world.  A Protestant, you know, may believe pretty nearly as little or as much as he likes, whereas in our church everything is defined; we know what we must believe to be saved.  There is a sense of security in the Catholic Church which the Protestant has not.”

“Do you think so?  That is because you do not know our Church,” replied Kitty, who was a little astonished at this sudden outburst.  “I feel quite happy and safe.  I know that our Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross to save us, and we have the Bible to guide us.”

“Yes, but the Bible without the interpretation of the Church is ... may lead to error.  For instance...”

John stopped abruptly.  Seized with a sudden scruple of conscience he asked himself if he, in his own house, had a right to strive to undermine the faith of the daughter of his own friend.

“Go on,” cried Kitty, laughing, “I know the Bible better than you, and if I break down I will ask father.”  And as if to emphasise her intention, she hit her ball which was close under the cushion as hard as she could.

John hailed the rent in the cloth as a deliverance, for in the discussion as to how it could be repaired, the religious question was forgotten.