And that is what we have to do with the Bible, isn't it?' he said
gravely.

'Undoubtedly.'

'Well, mother, I am not talking to you; I am attacking Miss Frere. I
can talk to her on even terms. Miss Frere, I want to know what you
understand by obeying, when we are speaking of the demands of the
Bible?'

'Obeying? I understand just what I mean by it anywhere.'

'Obeying what?'

'Why, obeying God, of course.'

'Of course! But how do we know what His commands are?'

'By the words--how else?' she asked, looking at him. He was in earnest,
for some reason, she saw, and she forbore from the light words with
which at another time she would have given a turn to the subject.

'Then you think, distinctly, that we ought to obey the words of the
Bible?'

'Ye-s,' she said, wondering what was coming.

'_All_ the words?'

'Yes, I suppose so. All the words, according to their real meaning.'

'How are we to know what that is?'

'I suppose--the Church tells us.'

'Where?'

'I do not know--in books, I suppose.'

'What books? But we are going a little wild. May I bring you an
instance or two? I am talking in earnest, and mean it earnestly.'

'Do you ever do anything in any other way?' asked the young lady, with
a charming air of fine raillery and recognition blended. 'Certainly; I
am in earnest too.'

Pitt went away and returned with a book in his hand.

'What have you there? the Prayer-book?' his mother asked, with a
doubtful expression.

'No, mamma; I like to go to the Fountain-head of authority as well as
of learning.'

'The Fountain-head!' exclaimed Mrs. Dallas, in indignant protest; and
then she remembered her wisdom, and said no more. It cost her an
effort; however, she knew that for her to set up a defence of either
Church or Prayer-book just then would not be wise, and that she had
better leave the matter in Betty's hands. She looked at Betty
anxiously. The young lady's face showed her cool and collected, not
likely to be carried away by any stream of enthusiasm or overborne by
influence. It was, in fact, more cool than she felt. She liked to get
into a good talk with Pitt upon any subject, and so far was content; at
the same time she would rather have chosen any other than this, and was
a little afraid whereto it might lead. Religion had not been precisely
her principal study. True, it had not been his principal study either;
but Betty discerned a difference in their modes of approaching it. She
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