His name ought to have stopped with the first syllable."

Winifred had looked her indignation, and mourned that Hubert could not
see the charming qualities that made Frothingham popular with many.

Hubert's wish that the young man should not see him was unrealized, and
he was speedily joined by him.

"Hello, Gray," said Mr. Frothingham, affably. He was always affable to
Hubert for obvious reasons. "I wonder if you are going to hear the
Reverend Professor Cutting's lecture on the Higher Criticism? That's
rather in your line, isn't it? You know they have found that a good
lot of the Bible is all rot."

"I think they are a pack of asses," said Hubert, savagely, his opinions
accentuated by dislike of his questioner. "Indeed I am not going."

"Whew-w! You surprise me, Hubert. I thought you were a bit of a
sceptic yourself?"

"So I am, but I am not proud of the fact. My doubts are quite enough
for my own enjoyment without listening to Prof. Cutting's unbeliefs."

"But you know he talks from the Christian standpoint. He is not an
unbeliever."

"Isn't he! That's just what I object to in those men. If they would
confess themselves companions of the sceptical writers whom I have read
and speak from a Free Thinkers' platform, I would have some respect for
them. What do they believe that they did not? They respected the life
and teachings of Jesus, but did not believe in His inerrant knowledge
nor assumption of divinity. I do not see how any man can claim to be a
_Christian_ and not believe that what Jesus claimed for Himself was
true. If not true, He was either a deluded man and so unfit to lead
others into absolute truth, or He was a liar and morally unfit to
teach. I wonder that these men can't see through a ladder, for all
their learned research."

"You are pretty hard on them, Hubert."

"I am saying the simple truth. I tell you I have no respect for those
men. To profess to be Christians and from within the fort batter down
its fortifications isn't honest."

"That's right," said Frothingham, who, having no certain convictions of
his own, was prepared to enjoy a racy tirade from either side.

"So you are wrong, you see," said Hubert, "in thinking Prof. Cutting's
lecture in my line. When I get ready to open a broadside against the
Christian religion, I'll not put on a ministerial coat and collar to do
it in. You'd be shot in war if the enemy caught you in their
clothes--and you'd deserve it!"