"I believe in the Bible, and I have faith," said Phyllis firmly.

"That's right," said her father. "I hope you may always hold to both.
I think that those girls who expect to be regarded as advanced, because
they scoff at the Bible and at faith, are quite horrid. I also hope that
you will not eventually marry an infidel."

"That would be impossible," said Phyllis firmly.

"Would it?" said her father. "There is a stronger influence at work in
most of us, at times, than religion. I wonder if it will make a
victim of you, my child, though you did send George Holland about his
business."

"I don't quite know what you mean," said Phyllis, with only the
slightest possible flush.

And she did not know what he meant until six months had passed; but then
she knew.

Seeing that she did not know what he meant, her father thanked Heaven
that Heaven had given him a daughter who was unlike other daughters. He
prayed that she might never become like other daughters. He thought that
it would be good for his daughter to remain without experience of those
overwhelming passions which make up the life of a woman and a man.



Phyllis went out a good deal during the week, and everywhere she found
herself looked at with interest; sometimes she found herself being