She took back her hand, and her eyes fell at the same moment that her face flushed.

He felt that he had not been astray in his estimate of the controversial value—­in the eyes of a girl, of course—­of the appeal which he made to her.  A girl understands nothing of the soundness of an argument on a Biblical question (or any other), he thought; but she understands an appeal made to her by a man whom she had loved, and whom she therefore loves still, though something may have occurred to make her think otherwise.

“Can you ever have loved me?” he said again, and his voice was now more reproachful.

There was a pause before she said: 

“That is the question which I have been asking myself for some time—­ever since I read about that book.  Oh, please, Mr. Holland, do not stay any longer!  Cannot you see that if, after you have made an explanation that should satisfy any reasonable person, I still remain in my original way of thinking, I am not the woman who should be your wife?”

“You would see with my eyes if you were my wife,” he said, and he believed that she would, so large an amount of confidence had he in his own power to dominate a woman.

“Ah!” she said, “you have provided me with the strongest reason why I should never become your wife, Mr. Holland.”

“Do not say that, Phyllis!” he cried, in a low voice, almost a piteous voice.  “I must have you with me in this great work which I feel has been given me to accomplish.  I am prepared to make any sacrifice for the cause which I have at heart—­the cause to which I mean to devote the rest of my life; but you—­you—­I must have you with me, Phyllis.  Don’t give me an answer now.  All I ask of you is to think over the whole matter from the standpoint of one who loves the truth, and who does not fear the result of those who are investigators.  A few years ago the geologists were regarded as the enemies of the faith.  Later the evolutionists were looked on with abhorrence.  Had any clergyman ventured to assent to that doctrine which we now know to be the everlasting truth of the scheme of earthly life propounded by the Creator, he would have been compelled to leave the Church.  I do not know what will happen to me, my Phyllis.  No, no! do not say anything to me now.  All that I ask of you is to think—­think—­think.”

“That is it—­that is your modern scientific spirit!” she cried.  “You, and such as you, say ‘think—­think—­think’ to us—­to poor women and men who are asking for comfort, for protection against the evil of the world.  You say ‘think—­think—­think,’ when you should say pray—­pray—­pray.’  Where are you going to end? you have begun by taking from us our Bible.  What do you propose to give us in exchange for it?  No—­no, don’t answer me.  I did not mean to enter into the question with you—­to enter into any question with you.  I have no right to do so.”

“You have every right, Phyllis.  If I should cause offence to the least of the little ones of the flock with which I have been intrusted, it would be better that a millstone were hanged round my neck and that I were cast into the sea.  You have a right to ask and it is laid on me to answer.”