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"I have a letter somewhere," said Lady Muriel, "from an old friend, describing the way in which Sunday was kept in her younger days. I will fetch it for you." "I had a similar description, viva voce, years ago," Arthur said when she had left us, "from a little girl. It was really touching to hear the melancholy tone in which she said 'On Sunday I mustn't play with my doll! On Sunday I mustn't run on the sands! On Sunday I mustn't dig in the garden!' Poor child! She had indeed abundant cause for hating Sunday!" "Here is the letter," said Lady Muriel, returning. "Let me read you a piece of it." "When, as a child, I first opened my eyes on a Sunday-morning, a feeling of dismal anticipation, which began at least on the Friday, culminated. I knew what was before me, and my wish, if not my word, was 'Would God it were evening!' It was no day of rest, but a day of texts, of catechisms (Watts'), of tracts about converted swearers, godly charwomen, and edifying deaths of sinners saved."Such teaching was well meant, no doubt," said Arthur; "but it must have driven many of its victims into deserting the Church-Services altogether." "I'm afraid I was a deserter this morning," she gravely said. "I had to write to Eric. Would you----would you mind my telling you something he said about prayer? It had never struck me in that light before." "In what light?" said Arthur. "Why, that all Nature goes by fixed, regular laws----Science has proved that. So that asking God to do anything (except of course praying for spiritual blessings) is to expect a miracle: and we've no right to do that. I've not put it as well as he did: but that was the outcome of it, and it has confused me. Please tell me what you can say in answer to it." "I don't propose to discuss Captain Lindon's difficulties," Arthur gravely replied; "specially as he is not present. But, if it is your difficulty," (his voice unconsciously took a tenderer tone) "then I will speak." "It is my difficulty," she said anxiously. "Then I will begin by asking 'Why did you except spiritual blessings?' Is not your mind a part of Nature?" "Yes, but Free-Will comes in there----I can choose this or that; and God can influence my choice." "Then you are not a Fatalist?" "Oh, no!" she earnestly exclaimed. |
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