human
I do not quite understand,
gpt
Understand what? she asked absently; then became more alive to his question.
human
Oh, my chatter. You will, before we part. I am no sphinx to propose riddles.
gpt
Every woman is a sphinx.
human
Without a secret; that is why you men find us so difficult to comprehend.
gpt
I confess to the difficulty at this moment.
human
What a complex mind I must have! Yet I am a very ordinary butterfly of fashion; something with wings, at all events, though not entirely an angel.
gpt
Am I to pay you a compliment, or rebuke you for frivolity?
human
You can do both or either; the sweet first will counterbalance the bitter last. But I sicken of compliments.
gpt
Even when genuine?
human
They never are. Men say things they don't mean to women out of traditional reverence for the exploded idea of the weaker vessel. When you meet a child your first thought is to give it sweets; when you talk with us the same thought is translated into polite lies. And we never believe you--never, Leah assured him.
gpt
Plain or beautiful, vain or humble, we price the words directly. In no case have I found them to be of value.
human
You make us out to be fools.
gpt
One must be truthful at times. Of course, I always except you, Lionel, as you are more man than parson.
human
Cannot I be both?
gpt
Oh, yes, when miracles occur. Lately I heard of a parson who laboured solitary and freezing amongst the snows of Labrador for a poor eighty pounds a year. He was emphatically a man.
human
And a parson, supplemented the vicar;
gpt
Do they? Nowadays, I mean. I am not using a mere phrase, believe me. Honestly now, could those Gospel miracles occur in this twentieth century?
human
Our Master was given the Spirit without measure as a man because He was the Son of the Most High; by that wisdom did He work His marvels. But the Apostles, in His power, also prevailed over the apparently natural, showing signs and wonders to the glory of the Risen Lord and His Father. 'With faith ye can do all things,' said the blessed Jesus Himself. Yes, Leah, I reverently believe that with purity, faith, and a humble trust in the Father by the merits of the Son, and by the power of the Holy Ghost, miracles could take place to-day.
gpt
Then why don't they?
human
A faithless and perverse generation----
gpt
A scientific generation, you mean. I don't believe--I can't believe--and I won't believe. Prove the power of your Master. You have faith; you are good; you----
human
No, no! You go too fast. I assuredly try to be good, but I am sadly wanting in many ways. I have faith, but how weak, how faltering. Who am I, to claim that the Lord should select me to reveal His strength unto men? I can work no miracle, Leah. Would to God that I could, if only to convince you!
gpt
Would to God that you could!
human
Why do you, a sceptic, ask about these things?
gpt
Jim is trying to be good; why should not I try also, since a wife is bound to follow her husband, according to St. Paul, who by the way was a bachelor? But, her mood shifted,
human
Jim has a tin-pot sort of faith which is better than nothing. I have not, and so, like your unbelieving Jews, require a sign.
gpt
I believe that you will yet find the Kingdom,
human
Don't you make any such mistake, she retorted.
gpt
I have not yet set out to find it, and never will, unless I see some of those wonders about which you talk so glibly.
human
But, believe me----
gpt
I do, though not to the extent of Bible magic. You hypnotise yourself into crediting the impossible. I wish you could hypnotise me. Oh, I wish--I wish--I wish!
human
Faith is not hypnotism,
gpt
It is--it is--it is! Leah was vehement in her denial.
human
Science can explain everything. Why do you come here to prate of miracles, when you know in your own heart that such things never were and never can be?
gpt
They were and they can be and they will be, while Christ reigneth, asserted the vicar, firmly;
human
Then call upon Him, and work your marvel.
gpt
I am not worthy.
human
You are not able, rather,