t accustomed to discuss
such matters as these at table."

"Are you not? I am," said Mr Keith, quite simply.

"But," continued Mr Bagnall, "I thought every one understood the
orthodox view--namely, that a man must do his best, and practise virtue,
and lead a proper sort of life, and then, when God Almighty sees you a
decent and fit person, and endeavouring to be good He helps you with His
grace." [Note 2.]

"Of course!" said the Vicar of Sebergham--I suppose by way of Amen.

"Men are to do their best, then, and practise these virtues, in the
first instance, without any assistance from God's grace? That Gospel
sounds rather ill tidings," was Mr Keith's answer.

Everybody was listening by this time. Sir Robert Dacre, I thought,
seemed secretly diverted; and Hatty's eyes were gleaming with fun.
Father looked uncomfortable, and as if he did not know what Mr Keith
would be at. From my Aunt Kezia little nods of satisfaction kept coming
to what he said.

"Sir," demanded Mr Bagnall, looking his adversary straight in the face,
"are you not orthodox?"

He spoke rather in the tone in which he might have asked, "Are you not
honest?"

"May I ask you to explain the word, before I answer?" was Mr Keith's
response.

"I mean, are you one of these Methodists?"

"Certainly not. I belong to the Kirk of Scotland."

Mr Bagnall's "Oh!" seemed to say that some at any rate of Mr Keith's
queer notions might be accounted for, if he were so unfortunate as to
have been born in a different Church.

"But," pursued Mr Keith, "seeing that the Church of England, and the
Kirk of Scotland, and the Methodists, all accept the Word of God as the
rule of faith, they should all, methinks, be sound in the faith, if that
be what you mean by `orthodox.'"

"By `orthodox,'" said the Vicar of Sebergham, after a sonorous clearing
of his throat, "I understand a man who keeps to the Articles of the
Church, and does not run into any extravagances and enthusiasm."

"Hear him!" cried Mr Bagnall, as if he were at a Tory meeting. Hatty
burst out laughing, but immediately smothered it in her handkerchief.

"I do hear him, and with pleasure," said Mr Keith. "I am no friend to
extravagance, I assure you. Let a Churchman keep to the Bible and the
Articles, and I ask no more of him. But excuse me if I say that we are
departing from the question before us, which was the propriety, or
impropriety, of one saying that his sins were forgiven. May I ask wh