it and has power to
make other people know that it is near? But then, you see, these others
fancy they must model their seeking upon the poor vagaries of their
teacher. We are certain that the treasure is found, but--we mix up
things so, things are really so mixed, that we suppose we must shape our
ideas upon the earthen vessel that holds it. I don't know whether I have
said what I mean, or if you understand--" she stopped.

She was complaining that people will not distinguish between the
essence of the heaven-sent message and the accident of form in which it
comes. He did not quite understand, because, if the truth must be told,
he had not entirely listened; for although all the spiritual nature that
was in him was stimulated by hers, a more outward sympathy asserted
itself too; he became moved with admiration and liking for her, and
feeling struggled with thought.

"Yes," he said, dreaming of her alone, "if one could always be with
people who are good, it would be easier to do something worth doing."

Notwithstanding her interest in what she was saying, Sophia began now to
see the inclination of his heart for her as one might see a trivial
detail of landscape while looking at some absorbing thing, such as a
race. She saw the homage he inwardly proffered more clearly than he saw
it himself. She had seen the same thing before often enough to know it.

"I think," she continued, "if I had been very ignorant, and had seen a
good deal of this old man, I would have followed him anywhere, because I
would have thought the spiritual force of his life was based on his
opinions, which must therefore be considered true. Isn't that the way we
are apt to argue about any phase of Church or Dissent that has
vitality?"

But the knowledge she had just come by was making its way to a foremost
place in her thought, and her open heart closed gently as a sensitive
plant closes its leaves. As he watched the animation of her face, he saw
the habitual reserve come over it again like a shadow. He felt that she
was withdrawing from him as truly as if she had been again walking away,
although now she stood still where his renewal of talk had stopped her.
He tried again to grasp at the moment of gracious chance, to claim her
interest, but failed.

He went on down the road. He had not guessed the lady had seen his
heart, for he hardly saw it himself; yet he called himself a blundering
fool. He wondered that he had dared to talk with her so lo