CHAPTER X.—(Continued.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 251, 22 February 1878, Page 3

CHAPTER X.—(Continued.)

Again Florence leaiit her head on her hand, and the answer was as it were, torn from her : " No, I believe that I have a soul." " Why," said Grant, " why do you believe it 1 " " ' Dust tliou art, to dust retnrnest.' Was uot spoken of tho soul." " • " Well, that is, perhaps, not the very safest ground of faith, but it will do for the present. Now, listen to me. These things are not intellectual views ; they are facts, living realities. If you hold them as intellectual views merely, you don't believe them ; but if 'you do believe them, you must obey them." " How ? " said Florence. <; How can I obey a fact ?*' "In this way," he replied : "If there is a God,' He must be worshipped. If He made you, He is your Master ; yes, you don't like the word, I see ; you shrink from it, it makes you angry. But it is not the less true for that ; He is your Master, and holds you in His hand, and you must serve Him. And if you have a soul, an immortal soul, as you say you believe, you m ist care for it as you care for nothing else ; and this taking care of an immortal soul is a very serious business." There was not another word spoken for several minutes ; at last Florence raised her head from her hand, and in a timid, subdued tone, murmured '" Thank you." The duke nodded kindly to her and she went away to the piano ; and to excuse her unusual silence, spent the rest of the evening singing Oswald some of his favourite songs.