aid,
"Mankind is made up of classes of very various mental complexion, as
distinct from each other as the colours which meet the eye. Red and blue
are incommensurable; and in like manner, a Magian never can become a
Greek, nor a Greek a Coelicolist. They do but make themselves fools when
they attempt it."

"Perhaps the most deeply convinced, the most tranquil-minded in the
Christian body," answered Caecilius, "will tell you, on the contrary, that
there was a time when they hated Christianity, and despised and
ill-treated its professors."

"_I_ never did any such thing," cried Callista, "since the day I first
heard of it. I am not its enemy, but I cannot believe in it. I am sure I
never could; I never, never should be able."

"What is it you cannot believe?" asked the priest.

"It seems too beautiful," she said, "to be anything else than a dream. It
is a thing to talk about, but when you come near its professors you see it
is impossible. A most beautiful imagination, _that_ is what it is. Most
beautiful its precepts, as far as I have heard of them; so beautiful, that
in idea there is no difficulty. The mind runs along with them, as if it
could accomplish them without an effort. Well, its maxims are too
beautiful to be realized; and then on the other hand, its dogmas are too
dismal, too shocking, too odious to be believed. They revolt me."

"Such as what?" asked Caecilius.

"Such as this," answered Callista. "Nothing will ever make me believe that
all my people have gone and will go to an eternal Tartarus."

"Had we not better confine ourselves to something more specific, more
tangible?" asked Caecilius, gravely. "I suppose if one individual may have
that terrible lot, another may--both may, many may. Suppose I understand
you to say that you never will believe that _you_ will go to an eternal
Tartarus."

Callista gave a slight start, and showed some uneasiness or displeasure.

"Is it not likely," continued he, "that you are better able to speak of
yourself, and to form a judgment about yourself, than about others?
Perhaps if you could first speak confidently about yourself, you would be
in a better position to speak about others also."

"Do you mean," she said, in a calm tone, "that my place, after this life,
is an everlasting Tartarus?"

"Are you happy?" he asked in turn.

She paused, looked down, and in a deep clear voice said, "No." There was a
silence.

The priest began again: "Perhaps you have been gr