Already they had discussed in detail the first half of the book.  How a man of Mr. Warricombe’s intelligence could take grave interest in an arid exegesis of the first chapter of Genesis, Godwin strove in vain to comprehend.  Often enough the debates were perilously suggestive of burlesque, and, when alone, he relieved himself of the laughter he had scarce restrained.  For instance, there was that terrible thohu wabohu of the second verse, a phrase preserved from the original, and tossed into all the corners of controversy.  Was~ thohu wabohu~ the first condition of the earth, or was it merely a period of division between a previous state of things and creation as established by the Hexaemeron?  Did light exist or not, previous to the thohu wabohu?  Then, again, what kind of ‘days’ were the three which passed before the birth of the sun?  Special interest, of course, attached to the successive theories of theology on the origin of geologic strata.  First came the ‘theory of restitution’, which explained unbiblical antiquity by declaring that the strata belonged to a world before the Hexaimeron, a world which had been destroyed, and succeeded by the new creation.  Less objectionable was the ‘concordistic theory’, which interprets the ‘six days’ as so many vast periods of creative activity.  But Reusch himself gave preference to the ‘ideal theory’, the supporters whereof (diligently adapting themselves to the progress of science) hold that the six days are not to be understood as consecutive periods at all, but merely as six phases of the Creator’s work.

By the exercise of watchfulness and dexterity, Peak managed for the most part to avoid expression of definite opinions.  His attitude was that of a reverent (not yet reverend) student.  Mr. Warricombe was less guarded, and sometimes allowed himself to profess that he saw nothing but vain ingenuity in Reusch’s argument:  as, for example, where the theologian, convinced that the patriarchs did really live to an abnormal age, suggests that man’s life was subsequently shortened in order that ’sin might not flourish with such exuberance’.  This passage caused Martin to smile.

‘It won’t do, it won’t do,’ he said, quietly.  ’Far better apply his rationalism here as elsewhere.  These are wonderful old stories, not to be understood literally.  Nothing depends upon them nothing essential.’

Thereupon Peak mused anxiously.  Not for the first time there occurred to him a thought which suited only too well with his ironic habits of mind.  What if this hypocritic comedy were altogether superfluous?  What if Mr. Warricombe would have received him no less cordially had he avowed his sincere position, and contented himself with guarding against offensiveness?  Buckland, it was true, had suffered in his father’s esteem on account of his unorthodoxy, but that young man had been too aggressive, too scornful.  With prudence, would it not have been possible to win Martin’s regard by fortifying the scientific rather than the dogmatic side of his intellect?  If so, what a hopeless error had he committed!—­But Sidwell?  Was~ she~ liberal enough to take a personal interest in one who had renounced faith in revelation?  He could not decide this question, for of Sidwell he knew much less than of her father.  And it was idle to torment himself with such debate of the irreversible.