"I think it does, papa. But it wants thinking over a good deal. I always
find as I think, that lighter bits shine out here and there in a thing I
have no hope of understanding altogether. That always helps me to believe
that the rest might be understood too, if I were only clever enough."

"Simple enough, not clever enough, my dear."

"But there's one thing," said my wife, "that is more interesting to me than
what you have been talking about. It is the other instances in the life of
St. Peter in which you said he failed in a similar manner from pride or
self-satisfaction."

"One, at least, seems to me very clear. You have often remarked to me,
Ethel, how little praise servants can stand; how almost invariably after
you have commended the diligence or skill of any of your household, as you
felt bound to do, one of the first visible results was either a falling
away in the performance by which she had gained the praise, or a more
or less violent access, according to the nature of the individual, of
self-conceit, soon breaking out in bad temper or impertinence. Now you will
see precisely the same kind of thing in Peter."

Here I opened my New Testament, and read fragmentarily, "'But whom say ye
that I am?... Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.... Blessed
art thou, Simon.... My Father hath revealed that unto thee. I will give
unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.... I must suffer many things,
and be killed, and be raised again the third day.... Be it far from thee,
Lord. This shall not be unto thee.... Get thee behind me, Satan. Thou art
an offence unto me.' Just contemplate the change here in the words of our
Lord. 'Blessed art thou.' 'Thou art an offence unto me.' Think what change
has passed on Peter's mood before the second of these words could be