she is not an infant and she is not a
phenomenon. Only this: she has less rubbish in her mind than any person
you ever saw. And I guess the things she does not know about life are
not worth knowing."

"I see," replied Celia; "poor boy! it's the moth and the star. [That's
just like her, muttered Philip, she always assumed to be the older.]
But don't mind. I've come to the conclusion that I am a moth myself, and
some of the lights I used to think stars have fallen. And, seriously,
dear friend, I am glad there is a person who does not know the things
not worth knowing. It is a step in the right direction. I have been this
summer up in the hills, meditating. And I am not so sure of things as
I was. I used to think that all women needed was what is called
education--science, history, literature--and you could safely turn them
loose on the world. It certainly is not safe to turn them loose without
education--but I begin to wonder what we are all coming to. I don't mind
telling you that I have got into a pretty psychological muddle, and I
don't see much to hold on to.

"I suppose that Scotch governess is pious; I mean she has a backbone
of what they call dogma; things are right or wrong in her mind--no
haziness. Now, I am going to make a confession. I've been thinking of
religion. Don't mock. You know I was brought up religious, and I am
religious. I go to church--well, you know how I feel and especially the
things I don't believe. I go to church to be entertained. I read the
other day that Cardinal Manning said: 'The three greatest evils in
the world today are French devotional books, theatrical music, and the
pulpit orator. And the last is the worst.' I wonder. I often feel as
if I had been to a performance. No. It is not about sin that I am
especially thinking, but the sinner. One ought to do something.
Sometimes I think I ought to go to the city. You know I was in a College
Settlement for a while. Now I mean something permanent, devoted to the
poor as a life occupation, like a nun or something of that sort. You
think this is a mood? Perhaps. There have always been so many things
before me to do, and I wanted to do them all. And I do not stick to
anything? You must not presume to say that, because I confide to you all
my errant thoughts. You have not confided in me--I don't insinuate that
you have anything to confide but I cannot help saying that if you have
found a pure and clear-minded girl--Heaven knows what she will be