"I assure you, Miss Marsden, I find you more interesting than some
doctrines."

"But you are young. You are on a vacation, and can for a time descend
to trifles, but you will grow like the rest. As it is, you speak
very guardedly, and intimate that I would be as nothing compared
with other doctrines."

"What is a doctrine, Miss Marsden?"

"O, bless me, I don't know exactly; a sort of abstract summing up
of either our qualities or God's qualities. The only doctrine I
even half understand is that of 'total depravity,' and I sometimes
fear it's true."

"I think you are a great deal more interesting than the 'doctrine
of total depravity,'" said Hemstead, laughing.

"Perhaps you will come to think I am synonymous with it."

"No fear. I have seen too much of you for that already."

"What redeeming features have you seen?"

He looked at her earnestly for a moment, and she sustained his
gaze with an expression of such innocent sweetness that he said, a
little impulsively, "All your features redeem you from that charge."

"O, fie!" she exclaimed, "a pun and flattery in one breath!"