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ere was surely a good deal in his career which was susceptible of piquant treatment。 And then someone said that Noah should have a chapter all to himself； also Lot； and what about the spies who had entered Jericho？ Could the imagination not suggest the story which they had told to their wives on their return to the camp； relative to the house in which they had passed all their spare time？ They supposed that Jericho was the Paris of the high class Jews of those days。
Then the conversation of these critics drifted on to the Paris of to…day； and the sermon and its lessons were forgotten as easily as is an ordinary sermon。 But all the same it was plain that the clergyman had fallen short of what was expected of him upon this occasion。 His book had gone far； and it was felt that he should have gone one better than his book； so to speak。 Instead of that his sermon had been one to which scarcely any exception could be taken。
But the bishop's chaplain； who had watched at intervals of praying； came to the conclusion that the rector of St。 Chad's was a good deal cleverer than the majority of youngish clergymen who endeavor to qualify for prosecution。 It may be unorthodox to cross one's arms with the regularity of clockwork on coming to certain words in the service； and young clergymen had been prosecuted for less； but it was not unorthodox to speak evil of the Jewsfor did not the Church pray for the Jews daily？ and can anyone insult a man more than by praying for himunless； of course； he is a king； in which case it is understood that no insult is intended？
The bishop's chaplain prepared a report of the sermon for his lordship； pointing out its general harmony； broadly speaking； with the tenets of the Church。
Mr。 Ayrton also seemed to perceive a sort of cleverness in the sermon。 There was nothing in it that was calculated to shock even the most susceptible hearer。 Indeed； it seemed to Mr。 Ayrton that there was a good deal in it that was calculated to soothe the nerves of those who had been shocked by the book。 He said something to this effect to his daughter as they walked homeward。 He was rather anxious to find out what chance George Holland had of being restored to his daughter's favor。
But Phyllis was firm in her condemnation of the methods of Mr。 Holland。
〃He attacks the Jews as a race in order to ridicule the statement in the Bible that they were God's chosen people； and they were； you know； papa；〃 she said。
〃They took so much for granted themselves； at any rate；〃 said her father； with some show of acquiescence。
〃But they were； and they are to be restored to their own land；〃 said Phyllis。
〃Are they； my dear？ I should like to see the prospectus of that enterprise。〃
〃You are mocking； papa。 They are to be restored； it says so in the Bible quite clearly。〃
〃I am not mocking； Phyllis。 If gold is discovered in Palestine； the Jews may go there in some numbers； but； take my word for it； they won't go otherwise。 They couldn't live in their own land； assuming that it is their own； which is going pretty far。 Palestine wouldn't support all the Jews alive at present； it's a wretched countryI know it well。 Besides； they don't want to return to it； and furthermore； we couldn't spare them。〃
〃I believe in the Bible； and I have faith；〃 said Phyllis firmly。
〃That's right；〃 said her father。 〃I hope you may always hold to both。 I think that those girls who expect to be regarded as advanced； because they scoff at the Bible and at faith； are quite horrid。 I also hope that you will not eventually marry an infidel。〃
〃That would be impossible；〃 said Phyllis firmly。
〃Would it？〃 said her father。 〃There is a stronger influence at work in most of us； at times； than religion。 I wonder if it will make a victim of you； my child； though you did send George Holland about his business。〃
〃I don't quite know what you mean；〃 said Phyllis； with only the slightest possible flush。
And she did not know what he meant until six months had passed； but then she knew。
Seeing that she did not know what he meant； her father thanked Heaven that Heaven had given him a daughter who was unlike other daughters。 He prayed that she might never become like other daughters。 He thought that it would be good for his daughter to remain without experience of those overwhelming passions which make up the life of a woman and a man。
Phyllis went out a good deal during the week； and everywhere she found herself looked at with interest； sometimes she found herself being examined through a /pince…nez/ as if she were a curious specimen； and a woman or two smiled derisively at her。 She did not know what was meant by their curiositytheir derisionuntil one day an old lady named Mrs。 Haddon went up to her and kissed her； saying：
〃I made up my mind that I would kiss you； my dear； the first chance I had。 God bless you； my child！ You have given your testimony as a woman should； in these days of scoffing at the truth。〃
〃Testimony？〃 said Phyllis； quite puzzled。 Had not her father felt a thrill of gratitude on reflecting that she had none of the qualities of the prig about her？ 〃Testimony？〃
〃You have testified to the truth； Miss Ayrton； and you shall have your reward。 You have shown that the truth is more to you thanthan love the love of manall that women hold sweet in life。 You are right Miss Ayrton； and all true women must love and respect you。〃
Phyllis turned a very brilliant color； and kept her eyes fixed on the parquet pattern of the floor。
The dear old lady said a good deal more to her； all in praise of her act of having given Mr。 Holland his /conge/ on account of his having written that shockingly unorthodox book。
By the end of the week Phyllis Ayrton was looked on as quite as much a heroine for having given Mr。 Holland his /conge/； as Mr。 Holland was a hero for having braved the bishop in writing the book。 She wore her laurels meekly； though she had been rather embarrassed when a ray of intelligence appeared among the dark sayings of the dear old lady。 She could not help wondering how all the world had become possessed of the knowledge that she had said good…by to her lover。 She considered if it were possible that Mr。 Holland had spread abroad the account of her ill…treatment of himhe would naturally allude to it as ill… treatment。 The quick judgment of Ella Linton had enabled her to perceive how valuable to Mr。 Holland was the incident of his rejection by Phyllis。 As a beginning of his persecution； its importance could scarcely be overestimated。 But it did not take Phyllis long to reassure herself on this matter。 It was； of course； Ella who had given the incident publicity。 She had done so for two reasons： first； in order that her little afternoon At Home might have additional luster attached to it by the presence of a young woman who had； in these days of a marriage market overstocked with young women （and old women； for that matter）； thrown over an eligible man for conscience' sake； and secondly； in order that her At Home might have additional luster attached to it from the presence of the man who allowed himself to be thrown over by a delightful girl rather than refrain from publishing what he believed to be the truth。
Mrs。