and fathom it?

_Rollestone_. By experiment: I know of no other way. The forces which
generate emotions and ideas must possess a moral quality: the experiments
must therefore be moral experiments.

_Germsell_. How do you set to work to experimentalise morally?

_Rollestone_. As the process must of necessity be a purely personal one,
carried on, if I may use the expression, in one's own moral organism, I
have a certain delicacy in attempting to describe it. In fact, Lady
Fritterly, if you will allow me to say so, as the whole subject which has
been under discussion this afternoon is the most profoundly solemn which
can engage the attention of a human being, I shrink from entering upon it
as fully as I would do under other circumstances. I people begin to want
a new religion because it is the fashion to want one, I venture to
predict that they will never find it. If they want a new religion
because they can't come up to the moral standard of the one they have
got, then I would advise them to look rather to that unseen force within
them, which I have been attempting to describe to Mr Germsell, for the
potency which may enable them to reach it.

_Lady Fritterly_. Indeed, Mr Rollestone, we are all exceedingly in
earnest. I never felt so serious in my life. Of course this London life
must all seem very frivolous to you; but that we can't help, you know. We
can't all go away and make moral experiments like you. What we feel is,
that we ought all to endeavour as much as possible to introduce a more
serious tone into society. We want to get rid of the selfishness, and
the littlenesses, and the petty ambitions and envyings, and the scandals
that go on. Don't we, Louisa, dear? And you can't think how grateful I
am to Lord Fondleton for having given me the pleasure of your
acquaintance. I hope I may often see you; I am sure you would do us all
so much good. You will always find me at home on Sunday afternoons at
this hour.

_Mrs Allmash_. It is so refreshing to meet any one so full of
information and earnestness as you are, in this wicked, jaded London.
Please go on, Mr Rollestone; what you were saying was so interesting.
Have you really been experimentalising on your own moral organism? How
quite too extraordinary!

_Lord Fondleton_ [_aside to_ Mrs Gloring]. By Jove! I had no idea old
Rollestone could come out in this line. He is a regular dark horse. I
should never have suspected it. He will be first