‘That, I thought, was for children,’ said Lady Carbury.  ’The clergyman, in the catechism, says, “My good child."’

’It is what you were taught as a child before you had made profession of your faith to a bishop, in order that you might know your duty when you had ceased to be a child.  I quite agree, however, that the matter, as viewed by your Church, is childish altogether, and intended only for children.  As a rule, adults with you want no religion.’

‘I am afraid that is true of a great many.’

’It is marvellous to me that, when a man thinks of it, he should not be driven by very fear to the comforts of a safer faith,—­unless, indeed, he enjoy the security of absolute infidelity.’

‘That is...