“Then he ought to have whatever those rights give him claim to. But it is not my business to discover or enforce the right. My business is to help the young man make little of the matter, and be a true man in whatever station he finds himself. Tell me whose servant I am.”

“You are the servant of Jesus Christ.”

“—Who said the servant must be as his master. Do you remember what he said when a man came asking to see justice done between him and his brother? He said, ‘Man, who made me a judge and divider over you? Take heed and beware of covetousness.’”

“It may be your business to see about it,” he went on, “I don’t know. I scarcely think it is. My advice would be to keep quiet a while longer, and see what will come. There appears no occasion for hurry. The universe does not hang on the question of Richard’s rights. Will it be much to you whether your friend go into the other world as bookbinder or something more?”

24. The Parson’s Counsel

— Twenty-Four —

The Parson’s Counsel

It was a good thing for both Richard and Barbara that Barbara was now under other influences than Richard’s. The more she saw of Mr. and Mrs. Wingfold, the more she felt she had come into a region of reality and life. Both of them understood that she was a rare girl and spoke as freely in front of her as if she had been a sister of their own age. And Barbara likewise spoke with total freedom to them, both of her past and her family, as well as her great desire to help Richard believe in God.

Certain attempts at what is called conversion are but manifestations of greed for power over others, swellings of the ambition to propagate one’s own creed and proselytize victoriously, hungerings to see the self reflected in another convinced. In such efforts lie dangers as vulgar as the minds that make them, and love the excitement of them. But genuine love is far beyond such grovelling delights.