was an agreeable man, and had distinct originality of ideas, besides
being possessed of very considerable culture. He also had that social
aplomb so much a characteristic of the naval officer. Yet, man of the
world as he was, he had a strain of asceticism which puzzled me. It did
not make him eccentric, but it was not a thing usual with the naval man.
Again, he wished to be known simply as Mr. Roscoe, not as Captain Roscoe,
which was his rank. He said nothing about having retired, yet I guessed
he had done so. One evening, however, soon after we had left Aden, we
were sitting in my cabin, and the conversation turned upon a recent novel
dealing with the defection of a clergyman of the Church of England
through agnosticism. The keenness with which he threw himself into the
discussion and the knowledge he showed, surprised me. I knew (as most
medical students get to know, until they know better) some scientific
objections to Christianity, and I put them forward. He clearly and
powerfully met them. I said at last, laughingly: "Why, you ought to take
holy orders."

"That is what I am going to do," he said very seriously, "when I get to
England. I am resigning the navy." At that instant there flashed
through my mind Mrs. Falchion's words: "You are going to be that--you!"

Then he explained to me that he had been studying for two years, and
expected to go up for deacon's orders soon after his return to England.
I cannot say that I was greatly surprised, for I had known a few, and had
heard of many, men who had exchanged the navy for the Church. It struck
me, however, that Galt Roscoe appeared to view the matter from a stand-
point not professional; the more so, that he expressed his determination
to go to the newest part of a new country, to do the pioneer work of the
Church. I asked him where he was going, and he said to the Rocky
Mountains of Canada. I told him that my destination was Canada also. He