“There was a sound of loud voices, as we approached the stoop.  Hollins, Shelldrake and his wife, and Abel Mallory were sitting together near the door.  Perkins Brown, as usual, was crouched on the lowest step, with one leg over the other, and rubbing the top of his boot with a vigor which betrayed to me some secret mirth.  He looked up at me from under his straw hat with the grin of a malicious Puck, glanced towards the group, and made a curious gesture with his thumb.  There were several empty pint bottles on the stoop.

“‘Now, are you sure you can bear the test?’ we heard Hollins ask, as we approached.

“‘Bear it?  Why, to be sure!’ replied Shelldrake ’if I couldn’t bear it, or if you couldn’t, your theory’s done for.  Try!  I can stand it as long as you can.’

“‘Well, then,’ said Hollins, ’I think you are a very ordinary man.  I derive no intellectual benefit from my intercourse with you, but your house is convenient to me.  I’m under no obligations for your hospitality, however, because my company is an advantage to you.  Indeed, if I were treated according to my deserts, you couldn’t do enough for me.’

“Mrs. Shelldrake was up in arms.

“‘Indeed,’ she exclaimed, ’I think you get as good as you deserve, and more too.’

“Elvira,’ said he, with a benevolent condescension, ’I have no doubt you think so, for your mind belongs to the lowest and most material sphere.  You have your place in Nature, and you fill it; but it is not for you to judge of intelligences which move only on the upper planes.’

“‘Hollins,’ said Shelldrake, ’Elviry’s a good wife and a sensible woman, and I won’t allow you to turn up your nose at her.’

“‘I am not surprised,’ he answered, ’that you should fail to stand the test.  I didn’t expect it.’

“‘Let me try it on you!’ cried Shelldrake.  ’You, now, have some intellect,—­I don’t deny that,—­but not so much, by a long shot, as you think you have.  Besides that, you’re awfully selfish in your opinions.  You won’t admit that anybody can be right who differs from you.  You’ve sponged on me for a long time; but I suppose I’ve learned something from you, so we’ll call it even.  I think, however, that what you call acting according to impulse is simply an excuse to cover your own laziness.’

“‘Gosh! that’s it!’ interrupted Perkins, jumping up; then, recollecting himself, he sank down on the steps again, and shook with a suppressed ‘Ho! ho! ho!’

“Hollins, however, drew himself up with an exasperated air.

“‘Shelldrake,’ said he, ’I pity you.  I always knew your ignorance, but I thought you honest in your human character.  I never suspected you of envy and malice.  However, the true Reformer must expect to be misunderstood and misrepresented by meaner minds.  That love which I bear to all creatures teaches me to forgive you.  Without such love, all plans of progress must fail.  Is it not so, Abel?’”