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being worn brown at the corners by long usage。 He turned on
till he came to the beginning of the New Testament； and then
commenced his discourse。 After explaining his position； the
old man ran very ably through the arguments； citing well…known
writers on the point in dispute when he required more finished
sentences than his own。
The minister's earnestness and interest in his own case led
him unconsciously to include Somerset in his audience as the
young man drew nearer； till； instead of fixing his eyes
exclusively on the person within the summer…house； the
preacher began to direct a good proportion of his discourse
upon his new auditor； turning from one listener to the other
attentively； without seeming to feel Somerset's presence as
superfluous。
'And now；' he said in conclusion； 'I put it to you； sir； as to
her： do you find any flaw in my argument？ Is there； madam； a
single text which； honestly interpreted； affords the least
foothold for the Paedobaptists； in other words； for your
opinion on the efficacy of the rite administered to you in
your unconscious infancy？ I put it to you both as honest and
responsible beings。' He turned again to the young man。
It happened that Somerset had been over this ground long ago。
Born； so to speak； a High…Church infant； in his youth he had
been of a thoughtful turn； till at one time an idea of his
entering the Church had been entertained by his parents。 He
had formed acquaintance with men of almost every variety of
doctrinal practice in this country； and； as the pleadings of
each assailed him before he had arrived at an age of
sufficient mental stability to resist new impressions； however
badly substantiated； he inclined to each denomination as it
presented itself； was
'Everything by starts； and nothing long；'
till he had travelled through a great many beliefs and
doctrines without feeling himself much better than when he set
out。
A study of fonts and their origin had qualified him in this
particular subject。 Fully conscious of the inexpediency of
contests on minor ritual differences； he yet felt a sudden
impulse towards a mild intellectual tournament with the eager
old manpurely as an exercise of his wits in the defence of a
fair girl。
'Sir； I accept your challenge to us；' said Somerset； advancing
to the minister's side。
VII。
At the sound of a new voice the lady in the bower started； as
he could see by her outline through the crevices of the wood…
work and creepers。 The minister looked surprised。
'You will lend me your Bible； sir； to assist my memory？' he
continued。
The minister held out the Bible with some reluctance； but he
allowed Somerset to take it from his hand。 The latter；
stepping upon a large moss…covered stone which stood near； and
laying his hat on a flat beech bough that rose and fell behind
him； pointed to the minister to seat himself on the grass。
The minister looked at the grass； and looked up again at
Somerset； but did not move。
Somerset for the moment was not observing him。 His new
position had turned out to be exactly opposite the open side
of the bower； and now for the first time he beheld the
interior。 On the seat was the woman who had stood beneath his
eyes in the chapel； the 'Paula' of Miss De Stancy's
enthusiastic eulogies。 She wore a summer hat； beneath which
her fair curly hair formed a thicket round her forehead。 It
would be impossible to describe her as she then appeared。 Not
sensuous enough for an Aphrodite； and too subdued for a Hebe；
she would yet； with the adjunct of doves or nectar； have stood
sufficiently well for either of those personages； if presented
in a pink morning light； and with mythological scarcity of
attire。
Half in surprise she glanced up at him； and lowering her eyes
again； as if no surprise were ever let influence her actions
for more than a moment； she sat on as before； looking past
Somerset's position at the view down the river； visible for a
long distance before her till it was lost under the bending
trees。
Somerset turned over the leaves of the minister's Bible； and
began：
'In the First Epistle to the Corinthians； the seventh chapter
and the fourteenth verse'。
Here the young lady raised her eyes in spite of her reserve；
but it being； apparently； too much labour to keep them raised；
allowed her glance to subside upon her jet necklace； extending
it with the thumb of her left hand。
'Sir！' said the Baptist excitedly； 'I know that passage well
it is the last refuge of the PaedobaptistsI foresee your
argument。 I have met it dozens of times； and it is not worth
that snap of the fingers！ It is worth no more than the
argument from circumcision； or the Suffer…little…children
argument。'
'Then turn to the sixteenth chapter of the Acts； and the
thirty…third'
'That； too；' cried the minister； 'is answered by what I said
before！ I perceive； sir； that you adopt the method of a
special pleader； and not that of an honest inquirer。 Is it；
or is it not； an answer to my proofs from the eighth chapter
of the Acts； the thirty…sixth and thirty…seventh verses； the
sixteenth of Mark； sixteenth verse； second of Acts； forty…
first verse； the tenth and the forty…seventh verse； or the
eighteenth and eighth verse？'
'Very well； then。 Let me prove the point by other reasoning
by the argument from Apostolic tradition。' He threw the
minister's book upon the grass； and proceeded with his
contention； which comprised a fairly good exposition of the
earliest practice of the Church and inferences therefrom。
（When he reached this point an interest in his off…hand
arguments was revealed by the mobile bosom of Miss Paula
Power； though she still occupied herself by drawing out the
necklace。 Testimony from Justin Martyr followed； with
inferences from Irenaeus in the expression； 'Omnes enim venit
per semetipsum salvare； omnes inquam； qui per eum renascuntur
in Deum； INFANTES et parvulos et pueros et juvenes。' （At the
sound of so much seriousness Paula turned her eyes upon the
speaker with attention。） He next adduced proof of the
signification of 'renascor' in the writings of the Fathers； as
reasoned by Wall； arguments from Tertullian's advice to defer
the rite； citations from Cyprian； Nazianzen； Chrysostom； and
Jerome； and briefly summed up the whole matter。
Somerset looked round for the minister as he concluded。 But
the old man； after standing face to face with the speaker； had
turned his back upon him； and during the latter portions of
the attack had moved slowly away。 He now looked back； his
countenance was full of commiserating reproach as he lifted
his hand； twice shook his head； and said； 'In the Epistle to
the Philippians； first chapter and sixteenth verse； it is
written that there are some who preach in contention and not
sincerely。 And in the Second Epistle to Timothy； fourth
chapter and fourth verse； attention is drawn to those whose
ears refuse the truth； and are turned unto fables。 I wish you
good afternoon； sir； and that priceless gift； SINCERITY。'
The minister vanished behind the trees； Somerset and Miss
Power being left confronting each other alone。
Somerset stepped