ten that it included
no heretical phrase in all its pages.)

But so soon as Phyllis Ayrton had read the first review of the book that
fell into her hands, she felt inexpressibly shocked. Great Heavens! Was
it possible that she was actually at that moment engaged to marry
the man who had written such a book--a book that held up Delilah to
admiration, and that abased Ruth? (It was singular how everyone settled
upon Ruth in this connection.)

She did not pause to analyze her feelings--to try and find out if she
was really so fond of Ruth as to make Ruth's insult her own; but without
a moment's delay, without a word of consultation with her father, she
sat down at her desk and wrote a letter to George Holland, asking him to
release her from her promise to marry him; and adding that if he should
decline to do so it would make no difference to her; she would consider
the engagement between them at an end all the same.

She felt, when that letter was posted, as if a great weight were lifted
from her mind--from her heart. Then a copy of "Revised Versions" arrived
for her from the author, and with the ink still wet upon the pen with
which she had written that letter to him, she caught up the book and
covered it with kisses.

Had he seen that action her lover would have been thoroughly satisfied.
A young woman must be very deeply in love with a man when she kisses the
cover of a book which he has just published. That is what George Holland
would have thought, having but a superficial acquaintance with the
motives that sway young women.

Later in the day he had replied to her letter, and had appointed four
o'clock on the following afternoon as the hour when he trusted she would
find it convenient to see him, in order to give him an opportunity of
making an explanation which he trusted would enable her to see that
"Revised Versions," so far from being the dreadful book she seemed to
imagine it to be, was in reality written with a high purpose.

She had not shrunk from an interview with him. She had sent him a line
to let him know that she would be at home at four o'clock; and now she
sat in her drawing room and observed, without emotion, that in five
minutes that hour would strike.

The clock struck, and before the last tone had died away, the footman
announced the Rev. George Holland.

CHAPTER IV.

SHE HAD NO RIGHT TO ACCUSE HIM OF READING THE BIBLE DAILY.

Phyllis shook hands with her visitor. He sought to retain