Ernest felt the force of this, and Pryer saw that he wavered.

`We are living,' he continued more genially, `in an age of transition, and in a country which, though it has gained much by the Reformation, does not perceive how much it has also lost. You cannot and must not hawk Christ about in the streets as though you were in a heathen country whose inhabitants had never heard of Him. The people here in London have had ample warning. Every church they pass is a protest to them against their lives, and a call to them to repent. Every churchbell they hear is a witness against them, every one of those whom they meet on Sundays going to or coming from church is a warning voice from God. If these countless influences produce no effect upon them, neither will the few transient words which they would hear from you. You are like Dives, and think that if one rose from the dead they would hear him. Perhaps they might. but then you cannot pretend that you have risen from the dead.'

Though the last few words were spoken laughingly, there was a sub-sneer about them which made Ernest wince; but he was quite subdued, and so the conversation ended. It left Ernest, however, not for the first time, consciously dissatisfied with Pryer, and inclined to set his friend's opinion on one side - not openly, but quietly, and without telling Pryer anything about it.


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