ir-minded, broad-minded men I have met, Isaacson," he said.
"Not as one of those who must always hunt with the hounds."

"The question is, What is prejudice? The facts of a life are facts, and
cannot leave one wholly uninfluenced for or against the liver of the
life. If I see a man beating a dog because it has licked his hand, I
draw the inference that he is cruel. Would you say that I am
narrow-minded in doing so? If one does not judge men and women by their
actions, by what is one to judge them? Perhaps you will say, 'Don't
judge them at all.' But it is impossible not to form opinions on people,
and every time one forms an opinion one passes a secret judgment. Isn't
it so?"

"I think feeling enters into the matter. Often one gets an immediate
impression, before one knows anything about the facts of a life. The
facts may seem to give that impression the lie. But is it wrong? I think
very often not. I remember once I heard a woman, and a clever woman, say
of a man whom she knew intimately, 'They accuse him of such and such an
act. Well, if I saw him commit it, I would not believe he had done it!'
Absurd, you will say. And yet is it so absurd? In front of the real man
may there not be a false man, is there not often a false man, like a
mask over a face? And doesn't the false man do things that the real man
condemns? I would often rather judge with my heart than with my eyes,
Isaacson--yes, I would. That woman said a fine thing when she said that,
and she was not absurd, though every one who heard her laughed at her.
When one gets what one calls an impression, one's heart is speaking, is
saying, 'This is the truth.' And I believe the heart, without reasoning,
knows what the truth is."

"And if two people get diametrically different impressions of the same
person? What then? That sometimes happens, you know."

"I don't believe you and I could ever get diametrically different
impressions of a person," said Armine, looking at Mrs. Chepstow; "and
to-night I can't bother myself about the rest of the world."

"Don't you think hearts can be stupid as well as heads? I do. I think
people can be muddle-hearted as well as muddle-headed."

As the Doctor spoke, it seemed to flash upon him that he was passing a
judgment upon his friend--this man whom he admired, whom he almost
loved.

"I should always trust my heart," said Armine. "But I very often
mistrust my head. Won't you have any more champagne?"

"No, thank you."

"Wha