“No,” said Ruth, positively, “I know Marion hasn’t.  It was only the other evening that she talked more wildly if anything than before.”

About this time Marion, alone in her tent, said again, as she had said a dozen times during the last few days:  “If I only knew!” And this time she added, “If I only knew how to know!”

CHAPTER XXV.

SERMONS IN CHALK.

Now, see here, Marion Wilbur, wake up and give me your attention.  I want to make a speech; I’ve caught the infection.  It’s queer in a place where there is so much speech-making done that I can’t have a chance to express my views.”

“I’m all attention,” Marion answered, turning on her pillow, and giving Eurie a sleepy stare.  “What has moved you to be eloquent?  Give me the subject.”

“The subject is the reflex influence of preaching!  It may have different effects on different natures.  Its effect on mine has been marked enough.  I’m thoroughly surfeited.  I don’t want to hear another sermon while I am here, and I don’t mean to.  They are all sermons.  The subject may be scientific, literary or artistic, and it amounts to the same thing; they contrive to row around to the same spot from whatever point they start.  Now, I came here for fun, and I’m being literally cheated out of it.  So the application of my remark is, I’ve learned since I have been here always to have an application to everything, and this time it is that I won’t go any more.  I’ve studied the programme carefully, and I have selected just what I am going to do.  That Mrs. Knox has a reception this morning.  I’ve heard about her before; she is awfully in earnest, and awfully good.  Oh, I haven’t the least doubt of it; but, you see, I don’t want to be good, nor to have such an uncomfortable amount of goodness about me.”

“She is said to be one of the most successful Sabbath-school teachers here; and I heard a gentleman say last night that her primary class was a regular training school for young ladies in Christian work.  You know she has ever so many teachers under her.”

“I can’t help that.  I am not one of them, I am thankful to say.  What do I care whether she is successful or not?  That won’t help me any.  I know all about her.  They say the young ladies in her classes are invariably converted before they have been under her influence long.  So if you want to be converted you have only to go to Elmira and join her class; but as for me, I am not in the mood for that experience yet, and I am not going near her.”

“What are you going to do then?”