Over and over did she revolve this sentence, and look at it from every attainable standpoint.  No use to try to shut it off, back it came.  All the clatter with which she had amused herself during the interval between meetings had not banished it.  No sooner was she seated under those trees waiting for the afternoon service than the thought presented itself for her to consider.

“I wonder if there are different degrees of moral blindness?” she said, suddenly.  “People who can see just enough to enable them to keep constantly going the wrong way, so that they are no better off than the blind, except that they admit that there is such a thing as seeing.  The thing is possible, I suppose.”

Ruth turned and looked at her wonderingly.

“What are you talking about?” she asked at last.

“I’m moralizing,” Marion said, laughing.  “You yourself suggested that train of thought.  I was wondering which of us was right in our notions, you or I; and, for all practical purposes, what difference it made.”

“You are too high up for me to follow.  I haven’t the least idea what you mean.”

“Why, I tell you I was contrasting our conditions.  Let me see if I have a right view of them.  Don’t you honestly think that there is a God, and a heaven, and a hell, and that to escape the one place and secure the other certain efforts upon your part are necessary?”

“Why, of course I think so.  I have never made any pretense of disbelieving all these things.  I think it is foolish to do so.”

“Exactly.  Now for one question more:  Have you made the effort that you believe to be necessary?”

“Have you been hired as an exhorter?” Ruth said, trying to laugh.  “Why, no, I can not say that I have.”

“Well, then, suppose you and I should both die to-night. I don’t believe any of these things; you do, but you don’t practice on your belief.  Then, according to your own view, you will be lost forever; and, according to that same view, so shall I. Now, practically, what difference is there between us?  So if it is really blindness, why may not one be totally blind as well as to have a little sight that keeps one all the time in the wrong way?”

“I dare say we are quite as well off,” Ruth said, composedly; “only I think there is this point of difference between us.  I think your position is silly.  I don’t see how any one who has studied Paley and Butler, and in fact any of the sciences, can think so foolish a thing as you pretend to.  One doesn’t like to be foolish, even if one doesn’t happen to be a Christian.”