“I had to come,” she said; “there are some things I feel I must ask you.  For I have been very miserable since I heard you on Sunday.”

He nodded gently.

“I knew that you would change your views—­become broader, greater.  You may remember that I predicted it.”

“Yes,” he said.

“I thought you would grow more liberal, less bigoted, if you will allow me to say so.  But I didn’t anticipate—­” she hesitated, and looked up at him again.

“That I would take the extreme position I have taken,” he assisted her.

“Oh, Mr. Hodder,” she cried impulsively, “was it necessary to go so far? and all at once.  I am here not only because I am miserable, but I am concerned on your account.  You hurt me very much that day you came to me, but you made me your friend.  And I wonder if you really understand the terrible, bitter feeling you have aroused, the powerful enemies you have made by speaking so—­so unreservedly?”

“I was prepared for it,” he answered.  “Surely, Mrs. Constable, once I have arrived at what I believe to be the truth, you would not have me temporize?”

She gave him a wan smile.

“In one respect, at least, you have not changed,” she told him.  “I am afraid you are not the temporizing kind.  But wasn’t there,—­mayn’t there still be a way to deal with this fearful situation?  You have made it very hard for us—­for them.  You have given them no loophole of escape.  And there are many, like me, who do not wish to see your career ruined, Mr. Hodder.”

“Would you prefer,” he asked, “to see my soul destroyed?  And your own?”

Her lips twitched.

“Isn’t there any other way but that?  Can’t this transformation, which you say is necessary and vital, come gradually?  You carried me away as I listened to you, I was not myself when I came out of the church.  But I have been thinking ever since.  Consider my husband, Mr. Hodder,” her voice faltered.  “I shall not mince matters with you—­I know you will not pretend to misunderstand me.  I have never seen him so upset since since that time Gertrude was married.  He is in a most cruel position.  I confessed to you once that Mr. Parr had made for us all the money we possess.  Everett is fond of you, but if he espouses your cause, on the vestry, we shall be ruined.”

Hodder was greatly moved.

“It is not my cause, Mrs. Constable,” he said.

“Surely, Christianity is not so harsh and uncompromising as that!  And do you quite do justice to—­to some of these men?  There was no one to tell them the wrongs they were committing—­if they were indeed wrongs.  Our civilization is far from perfect.”