‘There is no green in a rainbow,’ said Ada.

‘But look, Ada, that is green.’

’It is not real green.  Blue, red, and yellow are the pragmatic colours,’ said Ada, with a most triumphant air.  ’Now are not they, Maurice?’ said she, turning to her brother, who was, as usual, deep in entomology.

‘Pragmatic, you foolish child,’ said he.  ’Prismatic you mean.  I am glad you remember what I tell you, however; I think I might teach you some science in time.  You are right in saying that blue, red, and yellow are the prismatic colours.  Now do you know what causes a rainbow?’

‘It is to show there is never to be another flood,’ said Phyllis, gravely.

‘Oh, I did not mean that,’ said Maurice, addressing himself to Ada, whose love of hard words made him deem her a promising pupil, and whom he could lecture without interruption.  ’The rainbow is caused by—­’

‘But, Maurice!’ exclaimed Phyllis, remaining with mouth wide open.

’The rainbow is occasioned by the refraction of the rays of the sun in the drops of water of which a cloud is composed.’

‘But, Maurice!’ again said Phyllis.

‘Well, what do you keep on “but, Mauricing,” about?’

’But, Maurice, I thought it said, “I do set my bow in the cloud.”  Is not that right?  I will look.’

’I know that, but I know the iris, or rainbow, is a natural phenomenon occasioned by the refraction.’

‘But, Maurice, I can’t bear you to say that;’ and poor Phyllis sat down and began to cry.

Ada interfered.  ‘Why, Maurice, you believe the Bible, don’t you?’

This last speech was heard by Lilias, who just now entered the room, and greatly surprised her.  ‘What can you be talking of?’ said she.

‘Only some nonsense of the children’s,’ said Maurice, shortly.

‘But only hear what he says,’ cried Ada.  ’He says the rainbow was not put there to show there is never to be another flood!’

‘Now, Lily,’ said Maurice, ’I do not think there is much use in talking to you, but I wish you to understand that all I said was, that the rainbow, or iris, is a natural phenomenon occasioned by the refraction of the solar—­’

’You will certainly bewilder yourself into something dreadful with that horrid science,’ said Lily.  ‘What is the matter with Phyl?’

‘Only crying because of what I said,’ answered Maurice.  ’So childish, and you are just as bad.’

‘But do you mean to say,’ exclaimed Lily, ’that you set this human theory above the authority of the Bible?’

‘It is common sense,’ said Maurice; ‘I could make a rainbow any day.’

Whereupon Phyllis cried the more, and Lily looked infinitely shocked.  ‘This is philosophy and vain deceit,’ said she; ’the very thing that tends to infidelity.’

‘I can’t help it—­it is universally allowed,’ said the boy doggedly.

It was fortunate that the next person who entered the room was Claude, and all at once he was appealed to by the four disputants, Lily the loudest and most vehement.  ’Claude, listen to him, and tell him to throw away these hateful new lights, which lead to everything that is shocking!’