have such strange theological ways of dividing the world up into
saints and sinners, and you coolly predict such awful things for
the sinners (though I confess the sinners take it quite as coolly).
The whole thing seems professional rather than true."

The tone of deep sadness in which the young man next spoke caused
her to look at him with a little surprise.

"I do not wonder that this mutual coolness perplexes you. If we
believe the Bible, it is the strangest mystery in existence."

"You may well put that in. Do the generality of people believe the
Bible? But as I was saying, from the very nature of your calling
you come to live far away from us. Our old minister knows more about
dead people than living. He knows all about the Jews and Greeks who
lived eighteen centuries ago, but next to nothing of the young of
his own church. My motives and temptations would be worse than.
Sanscrit to him,--harder to understand than the unsolved problems
of mathematics. What does such a man know about the life of a young
lady in society? That which influences me would seem less than
nothing to him."

"I think you misjudge your pastor. If you became well acquainted
with him, you might find a heart overflowing with sympathy."

"I can no more get acquainted with him than if he dwelt on Mount
Olympus. If I were only a doctrine, he might study me up and know
something about me. But there is so much flesh and blood about me
that I fear I shall always be distasteful to ministers."