"
"He reminds me," Mrs. Shortridge said, "of a dissenting neighbor of
ours, when we lived in London, who was always saying, 'I am called,
but my wife is not,' much to the poor woman's disquiet in this world,
if not to the hazard of her happiness in the next."
"The old man puzzles me sadly at times," said Lady Mabel; "and he has
at hand many a text to sustain his dogmas."
"It is a pity," said L'Isle, "that he will not bear in mind those that
bid us 'Judge not that ye be not judged;' 'Let him that thinketh he
standeth, take heed lest he fall; 'Unto whomsoever much is given, of
him shall much be required;' and many others of the same tenor."
"Pray go on," said Lady Mabel, "and provide me with a refutation of
Moodie's theology of destiny: not that I hope to silence him, for
controversy is to him the breath of life."
Now L'Isle had acquired many things laboriously, but he had gotten his
training in divinity somewhat incidentally, and hesitated, as well he
might, to undertake the task imposed. But spurred on by the deference
she showed to his opinions, he eagerly sought to satisfy, yet not
mislead her. "Moodie is the type of a class," he said, "who are the
most wilful men in the world, yet are even inculcating that man has no
will of his own, but is the play thing of fate.
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