n't
happen to be a Christian."

"Foolish?" Marion repeated, and there was a fine glow on her face.
"Don't you go and talk anything so wild as that! If there is any class
of people in this world who profess to be simpletons, and act up to
their professions, it is you people who believe _everything_ and _do_
nothing. Now just look at the thing for a minute. Suppose you say,
'There is a precipice over there, and every whiff of wind blows us
nearer to it; we will surely go over if we sit here; we ought to go up
on that hill; I know that is a safe place,' and yet you sit perfectly
still. And suppose I say, 'I don't believe there is any such thing as a
precipice, and I believe this is just as safe a place as there is
anywhere,' and _I_ sit still. Now I should like to know which of us was
acting the sillier?"

"You would be," Ruth said, stoutly, "if you persisted in disbelieving
what could be proved to you so clearly that no person with common sense
would think of denying it."

"Humph!" said Marion, settling back; "in that case I think there would
be very little chance for each to accuse the other of folly; only I
confess to you just this, Ruth Erskine, if you could _prove_ to me that
there was a precipice over there, and that we were being carried toward
it, and that the hill was safe, I know in my very soul that I should get
up and go to that hill. I would not be such a fool as to delay, I know I
wouldn't."

"You are frank," Ruth said, and her face was flushed. "I am sure I don't
see why you don't make the attempt and decide for yourself, if you feel
this thing so deeply. _I_ think there ought to be a prayer-meeting on
your account. If I knew Dr. Vincent I would try to have this thing
turned into a regular camp-meeting time, then you would doubtless get
all the help you need."

Marion laughed good-humoredly.

"Don't waste your sarcasm on me," she said, cheerily; "keep your weapons
for more impressible subjects. You know I am not in the least afraid of
any such arguments. I have been talking downright truth and common
sense, and you know it, and are hit; that is what makes you sarcastic.
Did you know that was at the bottom of most sarcasm, my dear?"

"Do hush, please. These people before us are trying hard to hear what
the speaker is saying."

This was Ruth's answer; but she had had her sermon; and of all the
preachers at Chautauqua, the one who had preached to _her_ was Marion
Wilbur, the infidel school-teacher! I