miracle!  If so, I must maintain that the creation of man was, for the same reasons, of the essence of a miracle.  You seem to think there is no objection to the admission of miracles, provided they are astounding and numerous enough; or provided they are a long time about, instead of being instantaneously wrought.  I must remind you, that to the principle of our argument these things are quite immaterial.  Whether the revolution by which the established order of sequences is absolutely infringed,—­the face of the universe or of our globe transformed, or an entirely new race (as, for example, man) originated,—­I say, whether such change be produced slowly or quickly is of no consequence in the world to our argument.  It is whether or not a series of phenomena be produced as absolutely transcending the sphere of all experience, as those events we admit to be impossible, called ‘miracles.’  That the introduction of man upon the earth for the first time (for you will not allow his race eternal), or the origination of a sun, is not at all to be reckoned as transcending that experience, I cannot understand.  Nor can I understand it a bit better by your saying that it, is in conformity with the vague something you are pleased to call a law.  It is a safe phrase, however; for as neither you nor any one else can interpret it, no one can refute you.  This law is a most convenient thing!  It repeals, it appears to me, all other laws,—­even those of logic.  Perhaps would be better to say that miracles are no miracles when they are ‘lawful’ miracles.  No! let us keep our principle intact from all such dangerous admissions as these.  In that way only are we safe.”

“Safe do you call it?  I see not how, if we carry out this principle in the way and to the extent you propose, we can reply to the atheist or to the pantheist, who tells us that the universe is but an eternal evolution of phenomena in one infinite series, or in an eternal recurrence of finite cycles.”

“And what is that to you or me?  How can we help our principle (if we are to hold it at all) leading to some such conclusion?  We are, I presume, anxious to know the truth.  You see that Strauss, who is the most strenuous assertor of the impossibility of miracles, is also a pantheist.  I know not whether you may not become one yourself.”

“Never,” said Fellowes, vehemently; “never, I trust, shall I yield to that ‘desolating pantheism’ (as worthy Mr. Newman calls it) which is now so rife.”

“I think Mr. Newman’s principles ought to guide you thither.  You seem to hold fast by his skirts at present; but I very much doubt whether you have yet reached the termination of your career.  You have, you must admit, made advances quite as extraordinary before.

“We shall see.—­But I suppose you have reached the end of the objections which your wayward scepticism suggests against a conclusion which we both admit; or have you any more?”

“O, plenty; and amongst the rest, I am afraid we must admit—­whether we admit or not your expedient of law—­a miracle, or something indistinguishable from it, as involved in the creation and preservation of the first man,—­since you will have a first man.”