‘Why, yes!’ said Wych Hazel.  ‘Does anybody like oppression?’

‘Does anybody practise it?’

’I do not know, Mr. Rollo.  O yes, of course, in some parts of the world.  But I mean here.  Yes,—­those people used to look as if something kept them down,—­and I used to think Mr. Morton might help it, I remember.’

’You are not to suppose that oppression is liked for its own sake.  That is rarely the case, even in this world.  It is for the sake of what it will bring, like other wrong things.  But a question more.  Can I do all I can, without giving and using all I have for it?’

‘That is self-evident.’

’Then it only remains, how to use what I have to the best advantage.’

‘Well, even Mr. Falkirk admits you are a good business man,’ said Hazel, laughing a little.

‘How are you for a business woman?’

’Nobody has ever found out.  Of course I consider myself capable of anything.  But then business never does come into my hands, you know.’

‘This business does.’

’Does it? the business of caring for other people?—­Last summer Dr. Maryland read a terrible text about the “tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter.”  It haunted me for a while.  But I could do nothing.  No,—­one must have more right of way than I have—­yet.’

’I do not mean the business simply of caring for other people.  I mean the whole course of action, beginning from those first words you read.’

‘You know,’ she said quietly, ‘I have never tried.’

‘Will you study the lesson I have set you?’

‘The one you have been learning?’

’Yes.  The one contained in these verses you have read.  Shall I do harm if I mark this book?’

’No.’—­The word came quick, under breath.

He turned to the different places where she had been reading, and carefully marked the passages; then sought out and likewise marked several others.  ’Will you study the lesson out?’ he asked as he was busy with the last marking.

‘I will try—­I think,’ she answered slowly.  ’As well as I know how.’

‘Do not fancy,’ he said, smiling as he shut the book, ’that the care of the needy, in any shape, is religion; nor think that He who loves us will take anything as a substitute for our whole-hearted love to him.  If we give him that, he will let us know in what way we may shew it.’

She made no answer except by another swift look.  This was Chaldee to her!  He let the silence last a little while.

‘Now I have asked you so many questions,’ he said, ’I should like it if you would ask me a few.’

‘What about?’

‘All subjects are open to you!’

‘How did you contrive to make the bay “stand"?’

The flash of Rollo’s eye came first.

‘How do you know I did?’ he said laughing.  ’But that is no answer.  Let me see.  I believe, first I made him know that he must mind me; and secondly, I persuaded him into loving me.  All that remained, was to let him understand that I wanted him to be immovable when I was not on his back.’