"I'm not overstating the case, I assure you, my dear. A man was telling
me about one Colenso--he was, so far as I could gather, a first-class
man at algebra and heresy and things like that. He was Bishop
of Zanzibar or Uganda or some place, and he wrote a book about
Moses--showing that Moses couldn't have written something or other.
Well, he took a bit of prosecuting, five or six years, I believe, and
he didn't go nearly so far as Mr. Holland does in that book of his. All
this time people talked about little else but Colenso, and his books
made him a fortune. That was before our time, dear--when the newspapers
weren't worked as they are now. Block printing has made more heroes than
the longest campaign on record. Yes, Mr. Courtland said so two days
ago. I think I'll try some more of that lovely cake: it's like warm
ice, isn't it? Oh, you'll not be so foolish as to throw over your Mr.
Holland."

"It is already done," said Phyllis. "I'm so glad that you like the cake.
It is very subtle. What a delightful idea--warm ice!"

"Never mind the cake. I want to hear more of this matter of Mr.
Holland," said Ella. "Do you mean to tell me plainly that you threw
over Mr. Holland because he wrote a book that will bring him fame and
fortune?"

"I have thrown over Mr. Holland because he has written a book to make
people have contempt for the Bible," said Phyllis.

"Then all I can say is that you were never in love with the man," cried
Ella.

"You may say that if you please."